ANNALS 


OF  THE 


FROM   ITS 


FIRST     ESTABLISHMENT     IN     1818, 


TO  ITS 


DISSOLUTION   IN   1855. 


COMPILED  BY 


JOSEPH   M.   Wt-GHTMAN. 


OF  THR 

UNIVERSITY 


BOSTON: 

GEO.    C.    RAND    &    AVERT,    CITY    PRINTERS, 

1860. 


LA  306 


TO 

HON.    JAMES    SAVAGE,    LL.D., 

ONE    OF    THE    PRINCIPAL    AND    MOST    ACTIVE    ORIGINATORS,   AND    THE 
ONLY   SURVIVOR  OF   THE   ORIGINAL   OFFICERS   OF 

THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOL    COMMITTEE, 

is  Inscrifafc, 

AS   AN   EXPRESSION   OF   THE   RESPECT,   ESTEEM, 
AND    VENERATION   OF 

THE    COMPILER. 


PRELIMINARY  CORRESPONDENCE. 


BOSTON,  August  27th,  1859. 
HON.  FREDERIC  W.  LINCOLN,  JR.,  MAYOR  : 

DEAR  SIR,  —  At  the  final  meeting  of  the  Primary  School  Commit 
tee,  held  on  the  evening  of  January  2d,  1855,  at  which  time  it  ceased  to 
exist  as  an  organized  body  of  the  City  Government,  I  presented  a  brief 
historical  sketch  of  some  of  the  leading  incidents  connected  with  this 
branch  of  the  Boston  Public  Schools. 

By  a  vote  of  the  Board,  I  was  requested  to  have  it  printed  for  the  use 
of  the  members,  if,  in  the  opinion  of  the  President,  Secretary  and  author, 
it  was  deemed  expedient.  The  proviso  was  added,  at  my  request,  as, 
from  the  imperfect  manner  in  which  the  sketch  had  been  prepared,  I  was 
unwilling  to  have  it  go  forth  in  that  form ;  and,  as  nearly  all  the  records 
and  papers  relating  to  the  first  seven  years  of  the  organization  had  been 
destroyed,  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary,  (James  Savage,  Esq.,)  by  a  fire 
in  Court  street  in  1825,  I  felt  apprehensive  that  to  obtain  the  materials 
for  a  correct  history  would  be  difficult,  if  not  impossible. 

I  have,  however,  been  more  fortunate  in  this  respect  than  I  antici 
pated  ;  and  penetrated  with  a  sense  of  duty  to  endeavor  to  correct  some 
of  the  erroneous  views  and  statements  which  have  been  made  from  time 
to  time  in  the  printed  reports  and  other  city  documents,  in  reference  to 
the  Primary  School  Committee,  —  animated  with  an  increasing  interest 
during  the  investigation,  and  a  desire  to  perpetuate  the  records  and  acts 
of  an  organization  so  eminently  worthy  of  the  respect  of  the  community, 
I  have  continued  to  persevere  in  my  efforts  to  comply  with  the  vote  of 
my  late  associates. 

The  time  required  to  obtain  information  and  verify  important  facts, 
without  encroaching  too  much  on  the  avocations  of  business,  and  the 
absorbing  cares  of  public  office  during  the  last  three  years,  have  combined 
to  delay  the  final  preparation  of  the  work  until  the  present  time. 


The  manuscript  is  now  complete ;  and  if,  in  your  opinion  and  that  of 
the  City  Council,  it  is  desirable  that  these  Annals  of  the  Primary  School 
Committee  should  be  printed,  in  conformity  with  the  vote  of  the  late 
Primary  Board,  I  shall  be  most  happy  to  tender  it  to  the  City  Govern 
ment  as  an  humble  contribution  to  the  history  of  our  Public  School 
system,  which,  originating  in  our  own  city  of  Boston,  has  been  instru 
mental  in  extending  the  blessings  of  free  education  throughout  our 
common  country. 

With  sentiments  of  respect, 

I  remain  yours  truly, 

JOSEPH  M.  WIGHTMAN. 


CITY    OF    BOSTON. 


IN  BOARD  OF  ALDERMEN,  August  29,  1859. 
The  foregoing  communication,  from   JOSEPH   M.   WIGIITMAN, 
having  been  read  to  the  Board  by  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  it  was 
voted  that  five  hundred  copies  of  the  Annals  of  the  Boston  Pri 
mary  Schools  be  printed. 
Attest : 

S.  F.  McCLEARY,  CITY  CLERK. 


IN  SCHOOL  COMMITTEE,  March  13,  1860. 
Ordered,  —  That  the  Secretary  of  tliis  Board  be,  and  he  hereby 
is,  authorized  and  requested  to  have  printed,  for  the  use  of  the 
School   Committee,  five  hundred  copies  of  the  Annals   of  the 
Boston  Primary  School  Committee,  by  Joseph  M.  Wightman. 

Ordered,  —  That  the  Secretary  of  this  Board  furnish  to  each 
member  of  the  Board,  and  of  the  late  Primary  School  Com 
mittee,  a  copy  of  the  above-mentioned  Annals  of  the  Primary 
School  Committee. 

Attest : 

i;\i;\AKD  CAI'OT,  Secretary. 


PREFACE. 


THE  object  and  motives  of  tbe  compiler  in  the  preparation  of  these 
"  Annals,"  are  generally  set  forth  in  the  letter  to  His  Honor  the  Mayor, 
tendering  the  manuscript  to  the  City  Government. 

A  few  words,  however,  appear  to  be  proper,  if  not  necessary,  in  rela 
tion  to  the  origin  of  the  work,  and  some  of  the  circumstances  connected 
with  it. 

The  compiler  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Grammar  School  Committee 
for  1847,  at  which  time  the  agitation  in  regard  to  the  organization  and 
management  of  the  Public  Schools  was  at  its  height.  Aware  of  his  want 
of  knowledge,  it  was  his  endeavor,  during  the  four  years  he  was  honored 
with  a  seat  at  the  Board,  to  obtain  such  information  in  relation  to  the 
operation  of  the  school  system  as  would  justify  the  conservative  course  he 
desired  to  adopt  in  reference  to  the  changes  which  were  proposed. 

Surrounded  with  experienced  and  learned  associates,  and  receiving 
from  them  a  degree  of  courtesy  and  attention  which  deserves  the  most 
grateful  acknowledgments,  it  was  from  no  feeling  but  that  of  an  imperative 
sense  of  duty,  that  any  difference  of  opinion  existed  between  some  of 
them  and  the  compiler,  as  to  the  value  and  expediency  of  some  of  the 
important  changes  which  were  proposed  to  be  made  in  the  administration 
of  the  schools. 

Actuated  by  a  sincere  desire  to  avoid  all  rash  changes  in  a  system  of 
education  which  had  stood  the  test  of  time  and  experience,  and  having 
been  frequently  required  to  draw  up  the  reports  of  sub-committees,  on 
important  questions,  an  investigation  into  the  elementary  history  of  our 
Public  Schools  became  a  necessary  duty. 

The  connection  of  the  compiler  with  the  Primary  School  Committee,  at 
the  same  time,  placed  him  in  the  position  of  a  defender  of  that  organiza 
tion,  against  the  various  attacks  to  which  it  was  subjected,  from  time  to 
time,  for  several  years  previous  to  its  dissolution. 


Under  these  circumstances,  was  commence!  the  collection  of  those  facts 
in  relation  to  the  history  of  the  Primary  Schools,  which  are  herewith  pre 
sented.  As  a  historical  record  for  reference,  the  compiler  has  endeavored 
to  give  the  documents  and  votes  in  the  language  of  those  by  whom  they 
were  prepared,  —  particularly  in  those  cases  in  which  accurate  information 
was  desirable,  for  a  correct  understanding  of  the  condition  of  the  schools 
at  particular  times. 

Valuable  aid  and  encouragement  have  been  received  from  numerous 
friends  in  obtaining  authentic  information,  and  the  free  use  of  many 
original  papers  and  rare  printed  documents,  by  means  of  which  the  early 
history  of  the  Primary  Schools  is  rendered  comparatively  complete. 

Since  the  fire  in  1825,  the  records  of  the  Board  have  been  regularly 
and  correctly  kept,  and  are  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Grammar  School 
Committee.  These,  with  the  various  printed  reports  and  other  documents 
on  the  city  files,  being  accessible  to  any  interested  person,  it  has  been 
deemed  inexpedient  to  enlarge  the  present  work  by  extended  extracts 
from  those  sources,  the  main  object  of  the  compiler  having  been  to 
preserve  those  papers  upon  important  subjects,  which  are  in  manuscript, 
or  if  printed,  copies  of  which  are  only  to  be  found  in  the  possession  of 
private  persons.  In  the  selection  of  these  papers  a  due  regard  has  been 
had  to  the  historical  facts  which  they  embodied ;  and  when  they  have 
been  presented  entire,  it  was  because  no  digest,  however  carefully  made, 
could  do  justice  to  the  original. 

Those  portions  relating  to  the  early  history  of  the  schools,  have  been 
submitted  to  lion.  James  Savage,  to  whose  kindness  the  compiler  is  under 
deep  obligations ;  and  it  is  to  him  that  he  has  presumed  to  dedicate  this 
work,  which,  however  imperfect  it  may  be  as  a  literary  production,  will  at 
least  possess  the  more  important  merit  —  a  truthful  record. 

BOSTON,  September  27tf,  1859. 


ANNALS 


PRIMARY    SGHQQL,S; 


INTRODUCTORY   HISTORY. 

IN  writing  the  history  of  the  Primary  Schools,  their 
connection  as  a  branch  of  our  school  system  will  ren 
der  a  brief  historical  sketch  of  the  origin  and  progress 
of  the  Public  Schools  of  Boston  a  proper  and  interest 
ing  introduction. 

The  Public  Schools  date  their  origin  almost  as  far 
back  as  the  settlement  of  the  town.  So  early  as  the 
« 13th  of  ye  2nd  moneth  (April),  1635,"  we  find,  among 
other  proceedings  of  "  a  generall  meeting  upon  pub- 
lique  notice,"  that  "Likewise  it  was  then  generally 
agreed  upon  yt  our  brother  Philemon  Purmont  shall 
be  intreated  to  become  scholemaster  for  the  teaching 
and  nourtering  of  children  wth  us."  A  tract  of  land 
"  thirtie  acres "  was  allotted  to  him  "  att  a  generall 
meeting  ye  14th  of  ye  10th  moneth,  1635,  at  Muddy 
•River,"  (now,  it  is  supposed,  a  part  of  Brookline),  and 
the  grant  was  confirmed  "  att  a  meeting  ye  8th  of  ye 
llth  moneth,  called  January,  1637." 

Mr.  Purmont,  however,  was  not  the  only  "  schoole- 
master"  residing  in  the  town,  as  it  appears,  from  the 


U  INTRODUCTORY   HISTORY. 

record,  that  "  att  a  meeting  ye  17th  day  of  ye  2nd 
month  (April),  1C37,  it  is  agreed  yt  Mr.  Danyell 
Maude,  schoolemaster,  shall  have  a  garden  plott  next 
unto  Stephen  Kinsley's  house  plott,  upon  the  condition 
of  building  thereon,  if  neede  bee."  This  "  plott  "  was 
on  the.."JNTeck."  Still:  ds  there  is  an  incidental  men 
tion  made,  ten* years  later,,  of  "The  Schoolemaster,"  it 
may _.-be  •slippo'seci*  thtf  U  Mr/ Purmont  was  alone  in  the 
office  supported  by  the  town,  and  that  Mr.  Maude,  if 
he  exercised  his  profession  at  all,  did  it  either  in  the 
neighborhood  or  on  his  own  account.  According  to 
Snow's  History  of  Boston,  Maude  lived  next  south  of 
Mr.  Cotton's,  in  Common  Street,  afterwards  the  man 
sion  of  Lieut-Governor  Phillips. 

Several  of  the  islands  in  the  harbor  of  Boston  hav 
ing  been  granted  to  the  town  by  the  General  Court 
of  Massachusetts,  we  find  it  recorded  on  the  "  10th 
day  of  ye  llth  month,  1G41."  « It  is  ordered,  that 
Deare  Island  shall  be  improoved  for  the  maintanance 
of  a  Free  Schoole  for  the  Towne,  £  such  other  occasions 
as  ye  Townsmen  for  the  time  being  shall  think  meet, 
the  sayd  Schoole  being  sufficiently  Provided  for."  The 
island  was  soon  after  entrusted  to  the  care  of  Capt. 
Edward  Gibbon,  "  until  the  Towne  doe  lett  the  same." 
In  1G44,  it  was  let  for  three  years,  at  the  rent  of  £7 
per  annum,  for  the  use  of  the  school ;  and  again,  in 
1647,  the  former  lease  having  expired,  it  was  let  for 
seven  years  at  a  rent  of  £14  per  annum,  "for  the 
Schoole's  use  in  provision  and  clothing."  In  the  next 
year,  1648,  this  lease  was  extended  to  twenty  years 
at  the  same  rent  In  1640,  Long  and  Spectacle 
Islands  were  assigned  to  the  use  of  the  school;  and 


INTRODUCTORY   HISTORY.  O 

the  Selectmen  were  directed  to  take  order  that  they 
be  leased  for  the  use  of  the  school,  at  a  yearly  rent 
of  sixpence  on  every  acre. 

This  school  seems  to  have  been  a  favorite  with  the 
inhabitants  from  its  commencement ;  and  bequests 
were  made  for  its  use  in  the  wills  of  several  indi 
viduals.  William  Phillips,  in  1649,  "  agreed  to  give 
13s.  4d.  per  annum  forever  to  the  use  of  the  Schoole, 
for  the  land  that  Christopher  Stanley  gave  in  his  will 
to  the  Schoole's  use."  Five  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Braintree  were  leased  at  forty  shillings  per  annum  for 
the  same  use;  and  about  the  same  time  other  lands 
belonging  to  the  town  were  leased  for  the  same  pur 
pose.  In  1654,  "It  is  ordered,  that  the  ten  pounds 
left  by  legacy  to  ye  schoole  of  Boston  by  Mis  Hud 
son,  deceased,  shall  be  lett  to  Capt.  James  Olliver, 
for  16s.  per  annum,  so  long  as  hee  pleases  to  im 
prove  itt."  The  rents  on  "  Deare  Island,  Long  Island 
and  Spectacle  Island,  due  to  ye  use  of  ye  schoole," 
were  ordered  to  be  collected,  and  the  "  renters "  were 
required  to  appear  yearly  and  pay  their  dues.  Deer 
Island  was  in  1662,  leased  to  Sir  Thomas  Temple, 
Knight  and  K  Barronight,"  for  31  years,  at  a  rent  of 
£14  a  year,  "to  be  paid  yearly,  every  first  day  of 
March,  to  the  Towne  Treasurer  for  the  use  of  the 
Free  Schoole." 

We  do  not  learn  from  the  records  when  Mr.  Pur- 
mont  ceased  his  labors  here;  but  in  1650,  we  find 
the  following  record : — "  It  is  also  agreed  on,  that  Mr. 
Woodmansey,  ye  Schoolemaster,  shall  have  fiftye 
pounds  p.  ann.  for  his  Teaching  ye  Schollers,  &  his  pro 
portion  to  be  made  up  by  ratte."  Mr.  Woodmansey, 


INTRODUCTORY   HISTORY. 

whose  name  appears  to  have  been  Robert,  is  again 
named,  in  1G52,  on  occasion  of  a  sale  of  land  by  the 
town,  with  reservation  to  the  inhabitants  of  a  right 
to  "  enlarge  the  Skoolehouse ; "  and  it  appears  that 
the  house  in  which  he  lived  was  the  property  of  the 
town,  and  situated  near  the  school,  with  only  one  lot 
between,  which  belonged  to  the  schoolhouse.  In  1G57, 
the  rent  of  this  lot  was  assigned  to  him.  In  1G5G, 
"  It  is  ordered  yt  ye  Selectmen  shal  have  liberty  to 
lay  outt  a  piece  of  ground  outt  of  ye  Towne's  land, 
wch  they  give  to  ye  building  of  a  house  for  instruc 
tion  of  ye  youth  of  ye  Towne."  In  the  same  year, 
we  find  an  order  respecting  "  building  ye  Schoolehouse 
chimney."  At  this  time  (1G5G),  it  appears  that  there 
was  but  one  school  supported  by  the  town. 

In  1GGG,  the  town  "agreed  with  Mr.  Dannell  Hinche- 
man  for  £40  per  ami.  to  assist  Mr.  Woodmansey  in 
the  Grammar  Schoole,  £  teach  Children  to  wright,  the 
Yeare  to  begine  the  4th  of  March,  c-/\"  Soon  after 
this  appointment,  Mr.  Jones  was  sent  for  by  the  Select 
men,  "for  keeping  a  Schoole,  &  required  to  perform 
his  promise  to  the  Towne  in  the  Winter,  to  remove 
himselfe  &  familye  in  the  Springe,  &  forbiden  to  keep 
Schoole  any  longer."  From  this  it  would  appear  that 
he  had  opened  a  school  on  his  own  account,  which 
may  have  interfered  with  the  town  school,  and  conse 
quently  was  not  allowed  by  the  Selectmen. 

In  IGG7,  from  sickness  or  some  other  cause,  Mr. 
Woodmansey  appears  to  have  been  unable  to  attend 
to  his  duties,  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Tompson  was  "  made 
choice  of  by  the  Select  Men  for  to  officiate  in  the 
place  of  the  Schoolemaster  for  one  Yeare,  Mr.  Hall 


INTRODUCTORY    HISTORY.  5 

being  appointed  to  agree,  for  tearmes,  what  to  allow 
hime  per  annum." 

In  December,  1669,  it  was  u  Ordered,  Mr.  Raynsford 
to  give  notice  to  Mrs.  Woodmansey  that  the  Towne 
occasions  need  the  use  of  the  Schoole  house  [probably 
schoolmaster's  house],  &  to  desire  her  to  provide  other 
wise  for  her  selfe."  From  this  it  would  appear  that 
Mr.  Woodmansey  died  previously  to  December,  1669. 
In  March,  1670,  "upon  the  request  of  Mrs.  Margaret 
Woodmansye,  Widdowe,  to  provide  her  a  house  to  live 
in,  if  she  removeth  from  the  Schoole  house;  it  was 
granted  to  allow  her  eight  pounds  per  ami.  for  that 
end,  dureinge  her  "Widdowhood." 

December  22,  1670,  we  find  the  first  mention  in  the 
records  of  the  famous  "  Master  Cheever,"  who  for  thirty- 
eight  years  after  this,  exercised  so  important  an  in 
fluence  upon  the  education  of  the  people  of  Boston. 
He  died  August  21,  1708,  "venerable,"  says  Gov. 
Hutchinson,  "  not  merely  for  his  great  age,  94,  but  for 
having  been  the  schoolmaster  of  most  of  the  principal 
gentlemen  in  Boston,  who  were  then  upon  the  stage. 
He  is  not  the  only  master,"  adds  the  governor,  "  who 
kept  his  lamp  longer  lighted,  than  otherwise  it  would 
have  been,  by  a  supply  of  oil  from  his  scholars."  Pre 
vious  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Cheever,  the  increase  of  the 
town  required  more  schools ;  and  in  1682,  two  new 
ones  were  established.  Mr.  Cheever  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Nathaniel  Williams  in  1710,  and  he  in  1734  by  the 
celebrated  "  Master  Lovell." 

In  March,  1710,  five  inspectors  of  schools  were  ap 
pointed,  but  little  is  known  of  their  object  or  duties. 

In  1741,  the  population  of  the  town  was  16,382 ; 


G  INTRODUCTORY    HISTORY. 

and  on  the  23d  of  June,  a  committee  appointed  to 
examine  the  schools  reported  the  number  of  pupils,  and 
their  distribution,  as  follows  : 

At  the  South  Writing  School, .         .         .73 
"    "    Queen  Street*       «  .        .73 

"    "    North  Grammar    "...  230 
«    «    South  Latin          «  .         .94 

"    «    North     «  «       ...     65 

535 

Showing  a  total  of  535  scholars  in  all  the  public  schools 
at  that  time. 

June  24th,  1758,  the  Selectmen  having  been  ap 
pointed  a  committee  to  visit  the  schools,  reported  that 
"  they  had  attended  to  that  service,  accompanied  by  a 
number  of  distinguished  gentlemen,  and  found  in  the 

South  Grammar  School,  .         .     115  scholars. 

"  Writing  «  .  .240  " 
Queen  Street  Writing  School,  .  230  " 
North  Grammar  "  .  36  « 

"      Writing  «         .     220        « 

Being  841  in  all,  and  which  were  found  in  very  good 
order." 

At  the  visitation  of  the  committee,  July  1,  1772, 
there  were  823  scholars  reported  as  present,  which,  for 
some  reason,  shows  a  less  number  than  in  1758. 

In  March,  1785,  a  new  writing  school  was  established 
at  the  south  end  of  the  town  (Pleasant  Street),  over 
which  Mr.  Cheney  was  installed  as  master  April  26. 
During  the  revolution  the  schools  were  much  disturbed, 

*  Now  Court  Street. 


INTRODUCTORY    HISTORY.  7 

and  the  number  of  scholars  decreased  to  such  an  extent 
that  many  years  elapsed  before  they  recovered  from 
the  effect.  In  May,  1785,  the  number  reported  in  both 
the  Latin  Schools  was  only  64 ;  in  Queen  Street  School, 
150  ;  North  Writing  School,  150  ;  School  on  the  Com 
mon  (Mason  Street),  119  ;  Mr.  Cheney's,  81 ;  making 
but  564  in  all  the  schools.  At  this  time  a  rule  was 
adopted  by  the  School  Committee  to  admit  no  children 
to  the  Writing  Schools  under  seven  years  of  age. 

It  appears  from  the  records,  that  originally  the 
schools  were  under  the  supervision  of  the  Selectmen 
of  the  town,  in  whose  care  they  continued  until  1789. 
In  September  of  that  year,  a  committee  of  one  from 
each  ward  was  appointed,  at  a  town  meeting,  to  draft 
a  new  system  for  the  organization  and  government  of 
the  schools.  This  committee  made  their  report  Oct.  16, 
in  which  they  recommended  that  the  number  of  schools 
should  be  seven,  and  that  they  be  placed  under  the 
direction  of  a  school  committee,  composed  of  the 
Selectmen,  and  one  from  each  ward,  to  be  chosen 
annually  by  the  town.  Up  to  this  time  there  had  been 
no  provision  made,  in  Boston,  for  the  education  of 
females  at  the  public  expense,  and  therefore  all  their 
instruction  was  derived  from  private  schools.  In  view 
of  this,  the  committee  proposed,  that  in  the  new  system 
the  girls  should  be  admitted  to  the  Grammar  Schools, 
and  instructed  in  the  same  studies  as  the  boys,  but  at 
different  hours,  and  only  from  April  to  October  in  each 
year.  This  report  was  adopted  in  town  meeting,  and 
the  first  school  committee*  was  chosen  October  20,  1789. 

From  the  "Hist.  Collections,"  1794,  we  learn  that 
"  a  handsome  two-story  brick  building  was  erected  in 


8  INTRODUCTORY    HISTORY. 

1702  in  Bcnnet  Street,  where  the  North  Latin  School 
formerly  stood.  In  one  apartment,  "Writing  and  Arith 
metic  is  taught ;  in  another,  Spelling,  Reading,  English 
Grammar,  and  Geography.  In  the  centre  of  the  Town, 
on  the  N.  side  of  School  Street  [now  Court  Square],  is 
a  building  with  two  handsome  school-rooms,  erected  in 
1790,  in  which  boys  are  instructed  in  Latin  and  Greek. 
Another  is  a  new  house,  lately  built  of  wood,  and  used 
in  the  same  manner  and  for  the  same  purposes  as  the 
North  School  [Bennet  Street].  There  are  two  wooden 
buildings  in  the  South  part  of  the  Town  for  the  same 
purpose.  All  the  free  scho61s  are  supported  by  the 
Town ;  and  youth  of  both  sexes  are  admitted  at  dif 
ferent  hours.  In  the  month  of  July,  annually,  the 
Selectmen  and  gentlemen  of  science  chosen  by  the 
Town  as  a  School  Committee,  with  other  gentlemen, 
visit  these  schools  and  examine  them.  The  visiters 
dine  together  at  Faneuil  Hall  at  the  expense  of  the 
Town." 

The  bequest  of  Dr.  Franklin,  for  the  purpose  of  pro 
viding  medals  to  be  distributed  to  the  most  deserving 
scholars,  became  available  in  1792;  and  in  that  year 
the  inscription  and  device  were  agreed  upon,  and 
twenty-one  medals  ordered  to  be  prepared  for  distribu 
tion  in  the  schools.  They  were  first  distributed  to  the 
pupils  to  whom  they  were  awarded,  in  February,  1793, 
though  they  bore  the  date  of  1792. 

In  1800,  there  were  in  the  town,  seven  free  schools, 
containing  900  scholars,  of  whom  about  160  were  taught 
Latin.  There  were  besides  a  number  of  private  schools, 
at  which  there  were  about  500  pupils.  At  this  time 
the  salary  of  a  master  was  $G6G  GG,  with  a  gratuity  or 


INTRODUCTORY    HISTORY.  9 

allowance  of  $200  in  addition;  the  salary  of  an  usher 
was  $333  33,  with  an  allowance  of  $100.  The  town 
tax  of  this  year  was  $61,489  25,  of  which  the  school 
expenses  were  $11,100  85. 

In  the  spring  of  1804,  a  new  school-house  was  built 
in  Chardon  Street ;  and  in  1806  the  whole  number  of 
pupils  in  the  schools  was  1760,  of  which  1030  were 
boys  and  730  were  girls.  From  this  time  the  number 
of  scholars  did  not  increase  in  so  great  a  ratio,  inasmuch 
as  it  appears,  that  at  the  visits  of  the  committee,  in 
August,  1816,  there  were  only  eight  schools  and  2,000 
children,  being  an  increase  of  only  340  for  ten  years. 
The  great  increase  from  1800  to  1806  should,  however, 
be  attributed,  in  a  degree,  to  the  admission  of  the  girls 
to  the  schools. 

In  December,  1817,  the  bells  of  the  schools  were 
ordered  to  be  rung  at  the  hour  of  beginning,  and  tolled 
till  the  master  be  present.  They  were  also  to  be  tolled 
at  the  hour  of  dismission.  The  school  hours  for  com 
mencing  in  the  morning  were,  from  April  to  October, 
7  i  o'clock;  and  from  October  to  April,  8J.  At  this 
period  the  schools  were  regarded  with  increased  in 
terest  by  the  citizens ;  the  advantages  of  public  schools 
as  the  means  of  education  were  self-evident ;  and  their 
extension  had  begun  to  receive  considerable  attention, 
for  there  were  those  who  felt  that,  in  some  respects,  our 
educational  system  was  defective,  since  it  rendered 
private  schools  a  necessary  auxiliary  to  those  which  were 
public  and  free.  To  understand  this,  it  will  be  proper 
to  state  that,  by  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth,  it  was 
provided  that,  "  No  youth  shall  be  sent  to  the  Grammar 
Schools,  unless  they  shall  have  learned  in  some  other 
2 


10  ORIGIN   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

school,  or  in  some  other  way,  to  read  the  English  lan 
guage,  by  spelling  the  same."  The  laws  likewise  pro 
vided  for  the  establishment  of  preparatory  schools, 
where  grammar  is  not  taught;  but  to  this  time  there 
were  no  public  schools  in  Boston  where  children  could 
be  qualified  for  admission  to  the  Grammar  Schools. 
The  age  at  which  they  were  eligible  was  fixed  at  seven 
years,  and  but  few  were  ever  admitted  under  that  age. 
It  was  consequently  necessary  for  parents  to  send  their 
children  to  private  schools,  where  they  could  be  taught 
the  first  rudiments  of  reading,  before  they  could  receive 
admission  to  the  Grammar  Schools. 

Having  thus  briefly  and  imperfectly  sketched  the 
historical  incidents  connected  with  the  Boston  Schools, 
previous  to  the  establishment  of  the  Primary  Board,  we 
will  now  proceed  to  our  main  subject,  the  history  of 
that  organization. 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS. 

In  tracing  the  history  of  an  organization,  its  origin 
is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  its  most  interesting  fea 
tures  ;  but  after  the  lapse  of  years,  when  most  of  the 
active  men  by  whom  it  was  fostered  and  cherished 
into  life,  have  passed  away,  and  age  made  the  record 
of  the  past  dim  and  obscure  on  the  minds  of  the 
survivors,  it  is  extremely  difficult,  if  not  impossible, 
to  go  behind  the  written  record  and  trace  with  any 
degree  of  satisfaction  the  primary  cause  or  impulse 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  11 

from  which  its  origin  may  be  dated.  The  first  impulse 
may  have  been  given  by  a  simple  remark  or  an  acci 
dental  occurrence,  which,  striking  a  chord  in  harmony 
with  the  views  entertained  by  others  in  regard  to  the 
wants  or  interests  of  a  community,  is  responded  to  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  render  it  eventually  beneficial 
and  successful.  In  its  progress  and  development,  how 
ever,  it  often  becomes  so  modified  and  changed  by 
various  influences  and  circumstances,  that  the  original 
idea  can  scarcely  be  traced  or  recognized  among  the 
numerous  elements  which,  though  blended  together, 
have  each  been  more  or  less  instrumental  in  produc 
ing  the  result. 

As  all  of  these  difficulties  exist  in  the  present  case, 
it  may  be  deemed  unnecessary  by  some,  and  presump 
tion  by  others,  to  attempt  an  analysis  of  this  nature, 
or  seek  for  the  original  germ  with  any  hope  of  suc 
cess.  But  though  the  germ  may  not  be  discovered, 
there  are  those  who  first  watered  and  cherished  it, 
and  it  is  right  that  we  should  endeavor  to  give  "  honor 
to  whom  honor  is  due,"  and  render  the  proper  meed 
of  justice  to  those  worthy,  philanthropic,  and  self-de 
voted  men  through  whose  persevering  exertions  the 
Primary  Schools  were  projected  and  established. 

From  a  careful  investigation  of  all  available  evi 
dence,  it  appears,  that  one  of  the  most  prominent 
impulses  which  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  the 
Primary  Schools  of  Boston,  was  undoubtedly  derived 
from  the  introduction  of  Sunday  Schools.  These 
schools  had  been  instituted  in  England  by  Kobert 
Eaikes,  in  1781-82,  and  had  spread  with  great  rapid 
ity,  and  been  attended  with  eminent  success  through 


12  ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

all  parts  of  Great  Britain.  The  original  objects  of 
these  schools  was  to  gather  the  poor,  degraded  and 
neglected  children  from  the  streets,  who  were  left 
to  grow  up  in  ignorance  and  vice,  without  any  salu 
tary  home  influences  or  regard  for  the  Sabbath,  and 
by  kindness  and  persuasion  interest  them  sufficiently 
to  draw  them  together  on  the  Sabbath,  and  by  teach 
ing  them  to  read,  lay  a  foundation  for  imparting  to 
them  a  knowledge  of  their  moral  and  religious  duties. 
In  Great  Britain,  with  no  system  of  public  education, 
the  Sunday  Schools  were  soon  thronged  with  thousands 
of  children  whose  social  condition  was  such  as  to  pre 
clude  them  from  obtaining  the  most  simple  elements 
of  education,  except  by  this  means.  Ignorant  as  they 
were,  the  idea  of  being  taught  to  read  gave  a  charm 
to  the  Sunday  Schools,  and  a  success  that  probably 
no  efforts,  based  on  religious  or  moral  instruction 
alone,  would  have  accomplished. 

The  first  Sunday  School  in  the  United  States  was 
instituted  in  the  year  1791.  Its  object  was  to  instruct, 
gratuitously,  children  to  read  and  write,  who  were 
unable  to  attend  school  on  other  days.  The  teachers 
were  paid  a  salary,  and  the  design  did  not  extend 
to  the  religious  instruction  of  the  scholars.  In  1811 
the  present  plan  was  adopted  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl 
vania,  but  it  was  not  until  about  1816,  that  Sunday 
Schools  were  successfully  introduced  into  Boston. 
Previous  to  this  time  many  of  the  most  eminent  of 
the  clergy  and  members  of  the  various  religious 
societies  were  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  Sunday  Schools  as  a  check  to  vice  and  pauperism, 
and  engaged  most  earnestly  in  their  establishment. 


ORIGIN   OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  13 

As  a  means  of  promoting  the  object,  a  society  was 
formed  under  the  name  of  "  The  Society  for  the  Moral 
and  Religious  Instruction  of  the  Poor/'  and  it  was  prob 
ably  under  the  influence  and  auspices  of  this  society 
that  the  first  Sunday  Schools  were  gathered.* 

*  In  corroboration  of  this,  is  the  following  letter  from  the  Town  files 
for  1818.  Mr.  Thurston  was  one  of  the  earliest  friends  in  the  establishment 
of  Primary  Schools,  and  was  as  eminent  for  his  high  legal  attainments  as  for 
his  active  and  disinterested  benevolence. 

"BOSTON,  March  18,  1818. 
"  Turner  Phillips,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Honorable  Board  of  Selectmen: 

"  Sir : — Since  I  called  on  you,  I  have  been  to  Mr.  Webb's  school  in  Mason 
street,  to  know  if  it  would  be  convenient  to  have  the  rooms  occupied  by  the 
school  under  his  care  for  a  Sunday  school ;  he  replied  that  the  writing  books, 
&c.,  are  all  locked  up,  and  that  no  inconvenience  would  be  sustained  by  the 
Sunday  school,  which  he  believed  was  productive  of  much  good.  Permit 
me,  therefore,  to  request  that  you  would  lay  our  application  for  a  second 
room  in  Mason  street  school-house,  if  you  think  it  necessary,  having  already 
obtained  a  general  consent  of  it  for  the  use  of  that  school-house  last  May. 

"  Our  objects  in  attending  to  Sunday  schools,  are,  to  reclaim  the  vicious,  to 
instruct  the  ignorant,  to  secure  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  to  induce  the 
children  to  attend  public  worship,  and  to  raise  the  standard  of  morals  among 
the  lower  classes  of  society.  We  are  encouraged  in  obtaining  these,  by  the 
experience  which  other  places  have  declared  to  result  from  Sunday  schools, 
and  upon  the  little  good  which  we  hope  has  been  done  by  them  in  this  town. 

"  We  believe  in  this  way  we  strike  at  the  foundation  of  the  evils  incidental 
to  society,  and  with  greater  prospect  of  success  than  to  reform  the  hardened 
offenders, — and  yet  through  the  children,  not  unfrequently  the  parent  is 
reclaimed. 

"  I  have  thought  this  explanation  of  our  motives  and  objects  would  not 
be  unacceptable.  Whether  we  shall  succeed,  time  must  determine.  The 
society  feel  grateful  for  the  accommodation  of  school-rooms  already  granted, 
and  shall  duly  appreciate  such  further  ones  as  the  number  of  scholars  in 
the  vicinity  seem  in  our  view  to  require.  These  are,  Mr.  Webb's  school 
rooms  in  Mason  street,  and  one  of  the  rooms  in  the  school-house  in  North 
School  street.  A  compliance  with  our  requests  will  greatly  facilitate  our 
efforts,  and  oblige 

"  Respectfully  yours, 

"WILLIAM  THURSTON, 

"  In  lehalf  of  the   Committee  of  Boston  Society  for  the  Moral  and  Religious 
Instruction  of  the  Poor" 


14  ORIGIN   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Although  the  teaching  of  reading  was  one  of  the 
principal  characteristics  of  the  Sunday  Schools,  it  was 
not  anticipated  by  its  friends,  that,  in  Boston,  which 
from  its  first  settlement  had  been  preeminent  for  its 
free  schools  and  other  means  of  general  education, 
this  kind  of  instruction  would  be  required  to  any 
considerable  extent ;  they  were  therefore  surprised 
and  disappointed,  when,  at  the  gathering  of  these 
schools,  they  became  aware  how  large  a  proportion 
of  the  children  were  unable  to  read,  or  even  had 
any  knowledge  of  the  alphabet.  The  extent  to  which 
this  ignorance  prevailed  appears  in  a  report  of  the 
society,  (just  mentioned,)  made  in  November,  1817, 
in  which  it  is  stated,  "  that  of  33G  children  admitted 
into  the  Mason  Street  Sunday  School,  none  of  whom 
were  under  five  years  of  age,  not  one  quarter  part 
could  read  words  of  one  syllable,  and  most  of  them 
did  not  know  their  letters."  A  knowledge  of  this 
fact  brought  with  it  a  conviction  of  the  insufficiency 
of  the  education,  which  could  be  imparted  by  an 
attendance  of  the  scholars  but  once  a  wreek,  and  the 
great  detriment,  the  giving  of  so  much  elementary 
instruction  would  be,  to  the  religious  element  of  their 
undertaking.  This  led  them  to  regard  the  omission 
of  the  means,  for  the  public  education  of  children 
under  seven  years  of  age  as  a  great  evil,  and  a  radi 
cal  defect  in  our  otherwise  exemplary  system  of 
education. 

Under  these  circumstances,  it  is  reasonable,  that 
the  efforts  and  appeals  emanating  from  those  who 
regarded  education  as  essential,  but,  in  a  degree  sub 
sidiary,  to  the  religious  instruction  and  moral  eleva- 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  15 

tion  of  the  poor,  should  be  deeply  imbued  with  a 
union  of  these  principles;  and  we  are  not  surprised, 
that  in  the  agitation  which  ensued  upon  the  subject 
of  Primary  Schools,  these  elements,  of  an  eleemosynary 
character,  should  be  prominently  brought  forward  in 
some  of  the  plans  proposed.  Of  the  views  enter 
tained  by  those  who  advocated  this  peculiar  organiza 
tion,  the  following  "Plan,"  which  was  published  in 
February,  1818,  will  furnish  a  good  illustration : 

"I.  Let  schools  be  established  for  the  instruction 
of  all  the  children  from  four  to  seven  years  of  age, 
at  the  town's  expense. 

"II.  Let  the  present  system  of  Sunday  Schools  go 
fully  into  operation. 

"III.  Let  three  discreet,  judicious,  prudent,  indus 
trious,  pious  men  be  appointed  in  each  ward,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  — 

"1st.  To  Inquire  into  the  state  and  circumstances  of 
each  poor  family  several  times  in  the  course  of  the 
year,  and  note  them  down,  and  at  the  same  time 
encourage  them  to  industry,  cleanliness,  and  good 
morals;  and  by  their  advice  and  friendship,  to  assist 
them  in  contriving  ways  and  means  by  which  to  gain 
a  comfortable  subsistence  for  themselves  and  children. 

"  2d.  To  persuade  them  to  send  their  children  to  the 
Public  and  Sunday  Schools,  and  to  go  to  meeting  or 
to  church  themselves  with  their  children  on  the  Sab 
bath,  and  show  them  what  will  be  the  result  of  laud 
able,  useful,  and  pious  practices  like  these. 

"  3d.  To  ascertain  the  number  of  the  poor  in  each 
ward,  male  and  female,  where  they  live,  and  where 


16  ORIGIN   OF   TIIE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

they  were  bom,  and  to  what  meeting,  church  or  parish, 
if  any,  they  belong,  and  report  their  names  to  the 
minister  of  the  parish,  £c.,  and  request  him  to  visit 
and  show  them  the  use  and  necessity  of  public  wor 
ship,  and  the  advantage  it  will  be  to  them;  and 

"  4th.  As  fast  as  they  discover  an  inclination  in  any 
one  to  attend  public  worship,  and  having  ascertained 
the  name  of  the  minister  under  whose  preaching  he 
or  she  inclines  to  sit,  it  shall  be  their  duty,  by  the 
permission  of  the  church  and  parish  over  which  he 
presides  as  pastor,  to  furnish  him  or  her  with  a  seat, 
and  direct  each  where  to  find  it. 

"  5th.  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Board  of  Over 
seers  that  no  money  be  given  to,  or  expended  by  them, 
arising  or  growing  out  of  the  public  funds,  grants  of 
the  town,  private  donations,  or  public  charities,  upon 
any  poor  person  out  of  the  Alms  House,  except  to 
such  as  shall  be  pointed  out  and  recommended  by  this 
committee  as  suitable  persons  for  charity. 

"  6th.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  committee,  also, 
to  take  up  all  vagrants  and  street  beggars,  and  deliver 
them  to  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  to  be  committed 
to  the  Work  House  or  Alms  House,  as  the  case  may  be. 

"  7th.  It  is  recommended  that  the  above  committee 
of  thirty-six  gentlemen  shall  form  a  Board,  called  the 
Board  of  Primary  Schools,  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
into  operation  the  above  plan,  except  so  much  of  it  as 
relates  to  Sunday  Schools." 

These  views  were  probably  entertained  by  many  of 
the  most  earnest  friends  of  Primary  Schools,  and  par 
ticularly  by  those  who  were  actively  engaged  in  the 
religious  and  philanthropic  associations  of  the  day. 


ORIGIN    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  17 

It  is,  therefore,  to  this  cause  we  may  attribute  the  idea, 
which  has  prevailed  to  some  extent,  that  when  the 
Primary  Schools  were  established  by  the  town,  the 
number  and  qualifications  of  the  committee,  and  the 
manner  of  its  organization,  were  based  upon  this  union 
of  a  religious  and  secular  education. 

That  this  is  an  error,  is  evident  from  the  fact,  that 
when,  in  the  course  of  events,  the  subject  of  Primary 
Schools  was  formally  presented  for  consideration  at  the 
Town-meetings,  the  idea  of  combining  Sunday  Schools 
and  church  attendance  with  our  system  of  Public 
Schools,  does  not  appear  in  the  petitions  for  the  schools, — 
''the  reports  of  the  committees, —  nor  in  the  plan  subse 
quently  adopted  by  the  town. 

It  is  true,  that  at  the  beginning,  and  through  the 
whole  career  of  the  Primary  Board  as  an  organization, 
we  find  the  spirit  of  moral  care  and  Christian  benevo 
lence  which  was  originally  breathed  around  it,  con 
tinually  exhibiting  its  benign  influence  in  the  action  of 
the  Board,  and  in  the  self-devotion  of  the  committee. 

It  is  with  pride,  therefore,  that  we  acknowledge  this 
salutary  influence ;  and  we  regret  that  it  is  not  in  our 
power  to  do  justice  to  all  those  revered  and  eloquent 
divines  who  stood  foremost  in  the  ranks  as  firm  advo 
cates  and  tried  friends,  of  this  cause,  while  they  con 
tributed  largely  to  the  infusion  of  this  spirit  into  it. 
Of  these,  many  have  passed  away  without  our  knowl 
edge  of  their  participation ;  but  we  gladly  record  thej 
names  of  BALDWIN,  CHANNING,  DEAN,  WINCHELL,  FREEMAN, 
SHARP,  D  WIGHT  and  WARE,  as  prominent  among  those 
which  should  be  registered  with  grateful  remembrance 
as  pioneers  in  this  extension  of  popular  education. 


18  ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

But  with  all  proper  regard  to  the  influence  we  have 
been  describing,  it  is  manifest,  that  the  ultimate  success 
of  the  agitation  for  Primary  Schools  is  due,  in  no  less 
degree,  to  the  judicious  perseverance  of  those,  who, 
taking  a  different  view  of  the  subject,  felt  the  necessity, 
and  advocated  the  establishment  of  these  schools  on 
the  broad  ground  of  public  expediency ;  that  without 
them,  our  boasted  system  of  public  instruction  was  de 
fective,  incomplete,  and  inefficient.  Of  those  who 
urged  the  importance  of  Primary  Schools  on  these 
grounds,  none  were  more  indefatigable  in  their  efforts 
than  ELISHA  TICKNOR  and  JA^IES  SAVAGE.  These  gentle 
men  had  long  been  united  in  forwarding  various  pro-* 
jects  for  the  amelioration  and  improvement  of  the 
condition  of  the  poor.  It  was  mainly  through  their 
exertions  that  the  "  Provident  Institution  for  Savings  " 
had  been  put  into  operation,  and  its  success  had  en 
couraged  them  to  further  efforts  in  the  same  direction. 
Mr.  Ticknor  had  been  a  teacher  in  the  Grammar 
Schools,  and  had  seen  and  felt  the  deficiency  in  the 
system  of  instruction,  by  which  a  large  class  of  the 
population  were  prevented  from  deriving  any  advantage 
from  the  Public  Schools.  It  is  true  that  by  the  laws  of 
1790,  the  schools  wTere  apparently  free  to  all;  but  the 
conditions  were  such,  as  to  limit  the  advantages  to  those 
who  had  the  ability  to  qualify  their  children  for  admis 
sion.  The  law  required,  that  the  pupil  should  be  seven 
years  of  age,  and  able  to  read  in  plain  English  lessons ; 
but  there  were  many  parents  who  were  incompetent  to 
impart  even  this  elementary  instruction  themselves, 
and  whose  means  were  too  limited  to  pay,  even  the 
small  compensation  required,  to  send  their  children  to 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  19 

to  the  Dames'  Schools.  Others  were  too  illiterate  to 
appreciate  the  advantages  of  education,  sufficiently,  to 
apply  a  part  of  their  earnings  to  the  instruction  of 
their  children;  consequently,  as  the  preliminary  in 
struction  was  in  all  cases  a  private  charge,  except  to 
those  who  were  admitted  to  the  Charity  Schools,  it  was 
plain,  that  without  some  public  provision,  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  children  were,  and  must  be,  debarred 
from  entering  the  schools,  while  the  constantly  increas 
ing  foreign  immigration  was  swelling  the  number  of 
this  class  of  children  to  an  alarming  extent.  "  It  can 
not  be  doubted,"  says  Mr.  Savage,  in  one  of  his  letters, 
*  that  the  true  construction  of  the  laws  required  the 
opening  of  schools,  at  the  public  expense,  for  children 
under  the  age  of  seven  years,  inasmuch  as  the  laws 
passed  by  the  Legislature  in  1790  provided  for  the 
establishment  of  preparatory  schools." 

But  the  law  in  relation  to  this  class  of  schools  was 
not  acted  upon  by  the  authorities  in  Boston,  although 
it  appears  to  have  been  by  those  in  several  other  towns 
in  the  Commonwealth.  That  this  neglect  was  not  in 
accordance  with  the  sentiment  of  the  citizens  generally, 
is  evident  from  the  prompt  response,  in  favor  of  these 
schools,  which  was  given  by  them  whenever  the  subject 
was  brought  forward  at  the  town  meetings. 

By  the  continued  agitation  and  discussions  on  the 
subject,  the  inhabitants  became  more  and  more  in 
terested,  although  no  definite  action  appears  to  have 
taken  place  in  relation  to  it  until  1817.  On  the  26th 
of  May  in  that  year,  a  petition,  signed  by  160  inhabi 
tants,  mostly  residing  at  the  north  part  of  the  town, 
was  read  at  a  town  meeting  in  Faneuil  Hall.  The 


20  ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

last  paragraph  in  this  petition,  which  was  dated  May  1, 
and  addressed  to  the  Selectmen,  is  as  follows : — "  It 
appears  to  us,  also,  important  that  Schools  should  be 
provided  at  the  expense  of  the  Town  for  the  instruc 
tion  of  children  under  the  age  of  seven  years.  There 
fore  we  request  that  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  may  be  called,  to  take  the  above  subject  into 
consideration,  and  to  adopt  such  measures  thereon  as 
the  importance  of  the  subject  demands,  and  they  may 
think  most  for  the  general  good." 

A  town  meeting  was  called,  and  the  subject  referred 
by  the  town  to  the  School  Committee,  with  the  addition 
of  one  person  from  each  of  the  twelve  wards,  to  be  ap 
pointed  by  the  Selectmen.  The  following  is  from  the 
records  of  the  Selectmen,  May  29,  1817  :—"  The  Town 
having,  at  the  late  meeting,  directed  the  Selectmen  to 
appoint  a  committee,  to  consist  of  one  person  from  each 
of  the  Wards,  on  the  subject  of  schools,  the  following 
names  were  now  selected  from  the  lists  offered  by  the 
petitioners,  and  from  others  nominated  by  the  Board : — 

"Ward  1.  HENRY  J.  OLIVER.  Ward  2.  BEDFORD  WEBSTER. 

3.  JACOB  HALL.  4.  JAMES  W.  BURDITT. 

5.  JONA.  P.  HALL.  G.  ISAAC  WINSLOW. 

7.  GIDEON  SNOW.  8.  JOHN  DORR. 

9.  SAMUEL  MAY.  10.  DAVID  W.  CHILD. 

11.  ISAAC  STEVENS.  12.  JOSEPH  FIELD." 

These  committees  met  on  the  18th  of  June,  and  the 
members  of  the  several  Ward  committees  were  requested 
to  visit  every  family  in  the  Wards,  and  ascertain  the 
number  of  children  who  did  not  attend  any  school; 
also  the  number  of  Women's  or  "  Dames'  Schools,"  and 


ORIGIN    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHQOLS.  21 

the  number  of  their  pupils ;  they  were  also  requested, 
at  the  same  time,  to  ascertain  the  number  of  deaf  and 
dumb  and  blind  persons  in  each  Ward.  In  considera 
tion  of  the  labor  involved,  a  number  of  gentlemen  were 
appointed  to  assist  the  Ward  committees  in  their  duties. 
On  the  17th  of  July  the  returns  were  handed  in  to  the 
School  Committee,  who  appointed  a  sub-committee, 
consisting  of  CHARLES  BULFINCH,  Chairman  of  the  Select 
men,  PETER  0.  THACHER  and  HENRY  J.  OLIVER,  to  arrange 
the  returns,  and  report  upon  them.  On  the  30th  of 
October,  this  sub-committee  presented  their  report, 
adverse  to  the  petition,  which  was  read,  accepted  by 
the  School  Committee,  and  ordered  to  be  printed  for 
the  information  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  views  which  were  then  entertained  by  the 
authorities  upon  the  subject  of  schools,  and  the  inter 
esting  statement  in  relation  to  the  town,  at  that  time, 
joined  to  the  fact,  that  but  very  few  copies  of  this 
report  now  remain,  will  be  a  sufficient  reason  for  in 
serting  a  copy  of  the  entire  document  in  this  place: — 

PRIMARY     SCHOOLS. 

BOSTON,  November  3,  1817. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  town  on  26th  May 
last,  a  petition  was  presented  from  a  number  of  the  inhabi 
tants  for  additional  Schools,  and  was  referred  to  the  School 
Committee,  which  consists  of  the  Selectmen  and  twelve  other 
citizens,  to  which  was  added  one  person  from  each  ward, 
thirty-three  in  all.  The  body,  so  formed,  appointed  commit 
tees  for  each  of  the  wards,  to  ascertain  by  inquiry  the  actual 
state  of  education  in  the  town.  The  reports  of  the  several 
ward  committees  were  referred  to  a  sub-committee,  consist 
ing  of  CHARLES  BULFINCH  and  P.  0.  THACHER,  Esquires,  and 


22  ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 


Mr.  HENRY  J.  OLIVER  :  The  following  report  was  presented 
by  them,  and  will,  we  think,  be  regarded  as  a  valuable  his 
torical  document,  and  read  with  pleasure  by  all  who  take  an 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  rising  generation. 

REPORT. 

The  Sub-Committee,  to  whom  were  referred  the  returns 
of  the  Committees  of  the  several  Wards,  and  who  were  in 
structed  to  consider  the  expediency  and  necessity  of  estab 
lishing  within  the  town,  at  the  public  expense,  primary  schools 
for  children  under  the  age  of  seven  years,  and  also  of  increas 
ing  the  number  of  the  public  reading  and  writing  schools  for 
children  above  that  age  ;  having  examined  the  several  returns, 
and  collected  all  information  upon  the  subject,  ask  leave  to 
report  — 

The  duty  of  the  town  to  provide  the  means  of  instruction 
for  all  the  children  is  both  a  civil  and  religious  obligation 
upon  the  citizens;  but  it  is  a  reasonable  duty,  and  has  its 
limits.  If,  on  inquiry,  it  is  found  that  the  existing  schools 
are  not  sufficient  to  accommodate  the  public  wants,  their  num 
ber  ought  to  be  encreased.  But,  although  the  sub-committee 
does  not  apprehend  any  unwillingness  in  the  towns  to  provide 
liberally  for  the  public  instruction  ;  yet,  in  deciding  upon  the 
obligation  to  increase  the  number  of  schools,  it  cannot  be 
improper  to  have  reference  to  the  ability  of  the  town  to  make 
further  appropriations  for  their  support. 


The  Sub-Committee  find  that   the  Latin   Grammar 

school  consists  of       ......  147 

The  North  public  schools  of  309  boys  and  140  girls,  449 

The  West  schools  of  3.39  boys  and  234  girls,  .         .  573 

The  Centre  schools  of  240  boys  and  36  girls,          .  326 

The  South  schools  of  370  boys  and  283  girls,           .  653 

The  school  at  South  Boston  of  100  boys  and  girls,  .  100 

The  African  school  of  30  boys  and  20  girls,     .         .  50 

The  school  at  Alms  House  of  44  boys  and  23  girls,  67 

2,365 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  23 

These  schools,  containing  in  all  2,365  pupils  of  both  sexes, 
are  maintained  at  the  public  expense,  and  are,  excepting  a 
part  of  those  at  the  Alms  House,  for  children  above  the  age 
of  seven  years. 

The  several  Ward  Committees  were  instructed  to  visit 
each  house,  to  ascertain  the  name  of  every  child  from  the  age 
of  four  to  fourteen  years,  who  from  any  cause  failed  to  attend 
any  school;  and  to  obtain  full  and  accurate  information  of 
the  state  of  education  within  their  respective  limits.  The 
Committees  appear  to  have  performed  their  task  with  fidelity ; 
and  the  result  of  their  returns  in  a  digested  form,  is  added  to 
this  report,  and  is  offered  as  part  of  the  same. 

It  appears  that  there  are  in  the  town  one  hundred  and 
sixty-two  private  schools  of  various  descriptions,  in  which 
4,132  children  attend,  who  are  between  the  ages  of  four  and 
fourteen  years.  These  scholars  are  supported  at  the  expense 
of  the  parents,  excepting  eight,*  which  are  maintained  by  the 
charity  of  individuals,  organizing  themselves  into  different 
religious  societies  in  the  town,  and  superintended  by  associ 
ations  of  young  ladies,  in  the  respective  churches,  who  devote 
their  personal  attention  to  advance  the  progress  of  the 
children  in  manners  and  learning.  The  whole  expense  of 
these  private  schools  amounts  annually  to  forty-nine  thou 
sand  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  dollars,  furnishing  employment 
and  support  to  a  very  useful  and  respectable  class  of  citizens 
of  both  sexes.  Of  the  above  sums,  the  expense  of  the 
earliest  or  primary  schools  for  children  between  the  ages  of 
four  and  seven  years,  is  eighteen  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
eleven  dollars.  It  is  found  that  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  children,  between  the  ages  of  four  and  seven  years,  do 
not  attend  any  school :  Considering  the  population  of  the 
town,  which  now  amounts  to  about  forty  thousand  inhabitants, 


*  These  Charity  Schools  were  for  girls  only,  and  their  organization  and 
means  of  support  may  be  understood  from  the  "  Final  and  Seventh  Annual 
Report  of  the  School  of  Industry  No.  I.,"  which  is  printed  entire  in  the  Ap 
pendix,  from  probably  the  only  copy  now  preserved,  and  for  which  the  Editor 
is  indebted  to  Rowland  Ellis,  Esq. 


24  ORIGIN    OF   TILE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

together  with  the  influx  of  foreigners  and  strangers,  who  are 
ignorant  of  our  institutions^  or  who  have  not  learned  to  value 
them,  this  is  deemed  to  be  a  very  small  number.  But  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  are  found  not  to  be  inattentive  to  the 
wants  of  the  community  in  this  respect.  They  distribute 
annually  in  their  respective  Wards,  a  sum,  which  upon  an 
average  amounts  to  five  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  to  enable 
poor  children  of  this  class  to  attend  the  primary  schools, 
which  are  kept  in  various  parts  of  the  town. 

From  the  returns  of  the  Ward  Committees  it  appears,  that 
two  hundred  and  forty-three  children  above  the  age  of  seven 
years  do  not,  either  from  the  inattention  of  their  parents, 
from  indifference  to  the  subject,  or  from  inability,  make  any 
use  of  the  means  of  education,  public  or  private,  which  are 
afforded  by  the  town.  Of  this  number  it  may  be  presumed 
that  two-thirds  are  females,  who  might  be  easily  accommo 
dated  in  the  public  Schools.  Nor  does  there  appear  to  be 
any  difficulty  in  disposing  of  the  boys,  who  are  about  eighty 
in  number,  in  the  existing  public  schools,  especially  as  the 
females  attend  there  from  the  month  of  April  to  October 
only,  and  the  boys  are  then  divided  between  them  in  suc 
cession,  which  gives  ample  room  for  even  a  much  larger 
number  than  are  usually  found  to  attend. 

Considering  the  importance  of  education  to  the  present 
and  future  well-being  of  the  individual,  it  is  to  be  deeply 
lamented,  that  any  child  should  be  suffered  to  grow  up  in 
ignorance.  Next  to  giving  lessons  of  vice,  the  neglect  of 
parents  to  attend  to  the  education  of  their  children  is  the 
greatest  injury  which  they  can  inflict  upon  their  offspring.  In 
a  country  where  schools  are  provided  at  the  public  expense, 
it  is  a  debt  which  parents  owe  to  the  community,  and  an 
indispensable  part  of  their  office,  to  send  their  children 
regularly  to  School.  Our  laws  have  not  provided  penalties 
for  parents,  who  neglect  this  duty.  Perhaps  it  is  best  that 
its  performance  should  be  left  to  the  influence  of  feeling 
and  conscience,  and  to  the  dread  which  is  felt  of  that  in 
dignation  which  will  inevitably  arise  in  the  mind  of  a  child, 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  25 

who,  having  arrived  at  the  age  of  manhood,  finds  that  his 
education  has  been  neglected  by  those,  to  whom  he  is  un 
happily  indebted  for  his  existence.  But  in  every  society, 
individuals  will  be  found;  who  arc  wholly  regardless  of  their 
own  improvement  and  happiness,  and  who  equally  disregard 
the  best  moral  and  religious  interests  of  their  children.  Let 
the  system  of  public  instruction  be  ever  so  complete  and 
extensive,  some  will  always  be  found  to  neglect  its 
advantages. 

In  no  country  is  the  system  of  free  Schools  established 
on  more  liberal  principles  than  in  this  Commonwealth.  The 
fathers  of  New-England  well  knew,  that  ignorance  is  the 
parent  of  superstition  and  vice,  and  that  it  is  equally  hostile 
to  civil  and  religious  freedom.  They  incorporated  into  our 
civil  constitutions  the  principle,  that  provision  should  be 
made  in  each  town,  at  the  public  expense,  for  instructing 
the  children  in  the  elements  of  knowledge.  In  the  public 
Schools  in  this  town,  the  children  are  taught  the  principles 
of  the  English  language,  and  likewise  the  elements  of  Writ 
ing,  Arithmetic  and  Geography.  They  are  permitted  to  con 
tinue  there  from  the  age  of  seven  to  fourteen  years,  and  in 
that  time  they  become  qualified  to  engage  in  mercantile  and 
mechanical  professions,  are  disciplined  in  the  principles  of 
moral  and  religious  truth,  and  are  formed  to  make  valuable 
members  of  the  community.  The  only  qualification  for  ad 
mission  to  the  public  Schools  is,  that  the  child  should  know 
his  letters  and  be  able  to  combine  syllables,  and  the  instances 
are  rare  indeed  where  children  have  been  refused  admission 
from  the  want  of  this  qualification.  The  instructors  of  the 
Grammar  Schools  are  gentlemen  of  liberal  education.  All 
the  Schools  are  under  the  care  and  inspection  of  a  large  con^ 
(mittee,  consisting  of  twenty-one  citizens,*  to  whom  are  dele 
gated  all  the  powers  of  the  town  for  the  support  and 
encouragement  of  public  instruction. 

For  children  under  the  age  of  seven  years,  it  is  true,  no 

*  The  School  Committee  was  composed  of  nine  Selectmen,  ex-officio,  and 
one  member  elected  from  each  Ward. 


26  ORIGIN    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

schools  arc  maintained  at  the  public  expense.  But  experience 
has  proved  in  times  past,  and  it  has  been  demonstrated  by  the 
present  inquiry  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  sub-committee,  that 
this  class  of  children  with  us  is  not  neglected.  Perhaps  as 
large  proportion  of  them  enjoy  the  advantages  of  instruction 
as  would  avail  themselves  of  it  if  schools  were  maintained  in 
sufficient  number  by  the  public  treasury.  The  system  of  small 
private  schools  for  pupils  of  this  description,  supported  by 
the  parents,  operates  upon  them  as  a  tax,  which,  however,  is 
not  very  unequal  or  burdensome.  They  send  their  children  to 
such  schools  as  are  convenient,  and  at  such  rate  of  expense 
as  they  can  afford,  and  the  tax  is  paid  cheerfully,  because  it  is 
for  an  object  which  carries  with  it  the  reward  both  of  feeling 
and  duty.  If  public  schools  were  established  for  this  class, 
they  must,  to  be  of  general  utility,  be  very  numerous,  which 
would  create  a  very  great  expense  to  the  town.  If  they 
should  be  few  in  number,  they  would  not  be  attended,  for  it 
would  be  inconvenient  and  dangerous  to  send  small  children 
to  schools  distant  from  their  homes,  and  to  allow  them  to 
assemble  together  in  multitudes.  Few  parents  would  wish  to 
send  their  children  to  a  school  of  this  description.  Most 
parents  naturally  take  a  strong  interest  in  the  first  develop 
ment  of  the  tender  faculties  of  their  infant  children,  and  are 
willing  to  devote  more  attention  to  the  business  of  education, 
where  a  small  weekly  stipend  is  paid  by  them  for  this  object, 
than  where  the  whole  expense  is  defrayed  by  the  public 
treasury.  The  sub-committee  believe  that  most  parents  have 
some  leisure,  and  that  with  us  few  are  unequal  to  the  task  of 
teaching  the  elements  of  letters.  It  ought  never  to  be  for 
gotten  that  the  office  of  instruction  belongs  to  parents,  and 
that  to  the  schoolmaster  is  delegated  a  portion  only  of  the 
parental  character  and  rights.  In  the  retirement  of  domestic 
life,  parents  have  opportunities  to  impart  instruction,  and  to 
gain  an  influence  over  their  children  which  the  public  teacher 
does  not  possess. 

It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  free  schools  should  be  fur 
nished  with  so  many  instructors,  and  be  conducted  on  so 
liberal  principles  as  to  embrace  the  circle  of  a  polite  and 


ORIGIN    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  27 

finished  education.  They  have  reference  to  a  limited  degree 
of  improvement,  and  from  their  public  character  there  must 
arise  some  disadvantages  which  are  not  felt  in  private 
schools,  under  tutors  to  whom  is  assigned  a  small  limited 
number  of  pupils.  But,  considering  the  great  number  and 
flourishing  state  of  the  public  and  private  schools  in  this 
town,  the  universal  attention  which  is  paid  by  its  citizens  to 
their  support  and  encouragement,  the  very  small  proportion  of 
children  who  do  not  avail  themselves  of  these  institutions, 
together  with  the  heavy  tax  which  is  already  assessed  for  the 
support  of  the  public  education  j  the  sub-committee  report  as 
the  result  of  their  inquiries,  that  the  establishment  at  the 
public  expense  of  primary  schools  for  children  under  the  age 
of  seven  years,  is  not  in  their  opinion  expedient,  and  that  an 
increase  of  the  number  of  the  reading  and  writing  schools  is 
not  required  by  any  evident  public  necessity. 

By  order  of  the  Sub-Committee> 

CHARLES  BULFINCH,   Chairman. 


Boston,  Oct.  30,  1817. — At  a  meeting  of  the  School  Com 
mittee,  in  conjunction  with  the  committee  from  the  wards  of 
the  town,  the  above  report  having  been  read  and  fully  con 
sidered, — Voted,  that  the  same  be  accepted,  and  that  it  be 
printed  for  general  information. 

WM.  WELLS,  Sec.  to  S.  C. 


The  following  is  one  of  the  tables  referred  to  in  the  above 
report.  In  another,  the  committee  exhibited  particularly  the 
numbers  in  each  school,  with  the  various  prices  of  tuition, 
which,  from  its  length,  it  has  been  thought  advisable  to 
omit : — 


28 


ORIGIN    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 


RESULT  OF   THE   RETURNS    MADE  FROM    THE   SEVERAL  WARDS    BY 
THE  COMMITTEE  ox  THE  SUBJECT  OF  SCHOOLS. 


Wards. 

No.  of  Children 
who  go  to  no 
School. 

No  of 
Private 
Schools. 

No.  of 
Private  Pupils. 

Annual 
Expense. 

Charity 
Free 
Schools 

Under  7. 

Above  7 

00 

i 

Women's. 

i- 

H 

3 

S       cents. 

Schools. 

5 

'— 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 

57 
52 
2G 
9 
8 
20 
7 
G 
13 
G 
23 
5G 

4G 
53 
28 
14 
8 
23 
4 
5 
20 
3 
23 
16 

2 

1 

1 
1 

1 
1 

3 
5 

1 
3 

19 
12 
16 
1 
10 
13 
12 
5 
6 
10 
14 
17 

232 
128 
161 
70 
162 
100 
100 
15 
89 
125 
112 
185 

275 
169 
259 
24 
231 
190 
232 
119 
133 
212 
164 
280 

5,638  00 
2,846  00 
3,175  00 
1,249  00 
7,346  00 
2,879  00 
6,425  50 
2,285  00 
2,300  00 
8,162  50 
2,020  00 
4,828  50 

1 

60 

1 

32 

1 
1 
4 

35 
65 
173 

283 

243 

» 

10 

135 

1,479 

2,288 

49,154  50 

8 

365 

Number  of  Pupils— Boys,  1,479;    Girls,  2,288;    Charity   Scholars,   365; 
total,  4132. 

ANNUAL  EXPENSE  OF  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS  FOR  CHILDREN  UNDER  SEVEN 
YEARS  OF  AGE. 


Ward  1 2,962 

2 1,870 

3 2,775 

4 225 

5 1,710 

6 1,695 

7..  ,     787 


WardS 105 

9 1,820 

10 602 

11 3,020 

12 2,340 


Amount  .  .$18,9ir 


This  report  was  printed  and  distributed,  but  was  not 
submitted  to  the  action  of  the  citizens  at  a  town  meet 
ing,  as  the  School  Committee  apparently  regarded  the 
vote  of  the  town  as  placing  the  whole  matter  in  their 
hands.  Elaborate  and  carefully  prepared  as  it  was,  it 
was  not  satisfactory  to  the  petitioners,  but  was  opposed 
in  the  newspapers  by  Mr.  James  Savage  and  others 

*  This  amount  was  paid  by  the  parents  of  the  pupils,  in  the  Dames'  and 
other  private  schools. 


ORIGIN   OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  29 

with  eloquence  and  effect.  From  one  of  these  articles, 
in  the  Daily  Advertiser  of  April  21,  1818,  over  the  signa 
ture  of  "  MANY/'*  we  make  the  following  extracts : — The 
author  commences  by  laying  down  this  proposition  — 
"  All  should  be  taught  to  read  ;  the  poor  and  the  rich 
should  have  an  equal  chance  to  understand  the  nature 
and  principles  of  our  Eepublican  government;"  and 
adds,  "  Many  parents  in  this  town  send  their  children 
to  private  schools  kept  by  women,  while  those  who  are 
unable  to  pay  for  their  tuition,  are  obliged  to  leave 
them  to  traverse  the  streets,  or  shut  them  up  at  home. 
Of  this  class,  there  are  hundreds  among  us  already 
growing  up  to  all  kinds  of  iniquity.  In  the  report  of 
the  School  Committee  of  the  3d  of  November  last,  we 
are  told  that  the  number  of  children  between  the  ages 
of  four  and  fourteen  is  526,  '  who  go  to  no  school'  What 
are  those  children  doing  ?  Who  has  charge  of  them  ? 
Where  do  they  live  ?  Why  are  they  not  at  school  ? 
The  Committee  have  not  informed  us.  Have  they  not 
a  right  to  a  good  bringing  up,  and  to  a  common  school 
education  ?  and  have  they  not  a  right  to  a  common 
share  of  the  friendship  of  the  community  ?  If  their 
parents  negloct  to  provide  them  a  school,  is  it  not  the 
duty  of  the  town  to  do  it  ?  and  if  the  town  takes  no 
interest  in  their  welfare,  is  it  not  the  duty  of  the  Legis 
lature  to  enact  laws  for  the  purpose  of  saving  these 
dependents,  these  sufferers  ?  " 

"  All  children  have  an  equal  right  to  the  schools,  we 
know,  on  the  following  conditions,  and  on  no  other,  viz. : 
1st.  The  child  must  be  seven  years  old.  2d.  He  must 
be  able  to  read  in  the  Bible  sufficiently  well  to  keep 

*  Written  by  Mr.  Savage. 


30  ORIGIN    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

his  place  in  a  class.  3d.  He  cannot  be  admitted  after 
the  age  of  fourteen,  however  well  he  can  read,  or  how 
ever  deficient  he  may  be  in  writing  or  arithmetic.  Take, 
then,  the  case  of  a  parent,  (and  there  are  hundreds  in 
town,)  whose  circumstances  are  such  as  to  prevent  him 
from  qualifying  his  children  for  enjoying  the  benefits 
of  our  Free  Schools,  under  and  after  the  age  of  seven. 
Can  it  be  said  that  the  doors  of  our  schools  are  open  to 
these  children  ?  We  say  that  they  are  not ;  yet  we  are 
told,  "  they  are  open,  f reefy  open  to  their  reception,  but 
these  children  are  as  much  deprived  of  the  benefits  of 
our  schools  as  they  would  be  of  running,  after  their 
legs  were  broken,  or  their  eyes  were  put  out." 

The  School  Committee  having  decided  unfavorably 
to  the  wishes  of  the  petitioners,  another  petition  for 
the  same  object  was  presented  to  the  town  at  a  town 
meeting  in  Faneuil  Hall,  May  25,  1818.  This  petition, 
the  most  important  from  its  success,  was  drawn  up  by 
ELISHA  TICKNOR  and  JAMES  SAVAGE,  as  we  are  informed 
by  the  latter;  and  as  the  original  paper,  now  on  the 
town  files,  is  in  the  hand-writing  of  Mr.  Ticknor,  with 
several  interlineations  by  Mr.  Savage,  there  is  no  doubt 
of  their  action,  or  that  the  signatures  were  principally 
obtained  by  their  efforts.  The  list  contains  the  names 
of  so  many  of  the  eminent  and  influential  men  of  that 
time  that  we  cannot  refrain  from  recording  the  entire 
list,  as  a  memento,  alike  honorable  to  them  and  to  the 
cause. 

The  document  is  addressed, 

To  the  Selectmen  of  the  Toivn  of  Boston : 

GENTLEMEN:  —  The  undersigned,  inhabitants  of  Boston, 
impressed  with  the  deepest  sense  of  the  value  of  our  insti 
tutions  and  laws,  for  the  education  of  children  in  public 


ORIGIN    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 


town  schools,  respectfully  represent,  that  an  extension  of  the 
benefits  of  such  establishments,  appears  in  their  view  highly 
desirable  and  necessary,  that  inquiry  has  satisfied  them,  that 
many  hundred  children  in  this  town  grow  up  to  manhood, 
unable  to  read  or  write  ;  that  the  admission  to  the  present 
public  schools  of  those  over  seven  years  of  age,  requiring 
a  previous  acquaintance  with  easy  lessons,  and  many  parents, 
being  themselves  incompetent  to  give  such  lessons,  and  not 
able  to  obtain  such  instruction  for  their  children  at  private 
schools,  it  seems  expedient  that  such  previous  education 
should  be  freely  provided  for  by  the  town,  no  less  than  the 
instruction  at  our  established  schools;  that  such  schools 
might  be  taught  by  females,  and  rooms  provided  in  several 
parts  of  the  town,  at  a  small  expense,  or  the  cheap  Lancas 
trian  system  may  be  adopted;  that  the  duty  of  providing 
such  schools  and  instructors  need  not  necessarily  be  added 
to  the  labors  of  our  present  School  Committee,  but  might  be  ( 
performed  by  a  Committee  of  three  in  each  ward,  to  be 
named  by  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  annually,  which  Com 
mittee  might  also,  much  alleviate  the  labors  of  the  regular 
officers.  Wherefore,  they  request  that  a  meeting  of  the  in 
habitants  of  the  town  may  be  called  to  take  the  above  men 
tioned  subjects  into  consideration,  and  thereon  to  adopt  such 
measures  as  the  importance  of  the  matter  deserves,  and  the 
public  good  requires. 

(Judge)  Thomas  Dawes,  James  Savage,  Thomas  L.  Winthrop, 

(Rev.)  Thos.  Baldwin,       Wm.  Thurston,  Henry  Gray, 

James  Freeman,     Barzilla  Homes,  Elisha  Ticknor, 

Wm.  E.  Channing,  Jere.  Gore,  Wm.  Brown, 

Paul  Dean,  John  D.  Williams,  Robert  Fennelly, 

Daniel  Sharp,         Daniel  Weld,  Geo.  Darracott, 

Sereno  E.  Dwight,  Elijah  Williams,  Josiah  Vinton,  Jr., 

Henry  Ware,          Elisha  Preston,  Moses  Grant, 

Jas.  M.  Winchell,  Jesse  Mayo,  Thomas  Wallcut, 

Isaac  Vose,  Pliny  Cutler,  Henry  J.  Oliver, 

Josiah  Stedman,  Samuel  Bradlee,  N.  S.  Snelling, 

Benj.  West,  Uriah  lotting,  John  C.  Brown, 

Daniel  Ingalls,  Daniel  Messenger,  Wm.  Dall, 

John  Knapp,  Samuel  Coverly,  Augustus  Peabody, 


32 


ORIGIN    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 


Samuel  T.  Armstrong, 
Oliver  Fisher, 
Thomas  Brewer, 
Lemuel  Hay  ward, 
Joseph  Head, 
Charles  Barnard, 
Isaac  Stevens, 
Ferdinand  E.  White, 
Thaddeus  Robinson, 
Elijah  Davenport, 
Jno.  II.  Bacon, 
Eben.  Chadwick, 
Henry  Williams, 
Ephraim  Lock, 
James  Clap, 
Timothy  Merritt, 
Robert  II.  Thayer, 
David  Andrews, 
C.  D.  Coolidge, 
B.  P  Tilden, 
Thos.  Thompson, 
Thomas  Wigglesworth, 
Benj.   Pollard, 
Benj.  Austin, 
Benj.  ShurtlefF, 
Nathan  Hales, 
William  Cochran, 
Samuel  May, 
Jechonias  Thayer, 
Samuel  Snclling, 
Charles  Guild, 
Jno.  F.  Loring, 
Ignatius  Sargent, 
William  Sturgis, 
Benj.  Howard, 
Jeffrey  Richardson, 
James  Means, 
Geo.  II.  Hodges, 
J.  W.  C.  Baxter, 
Jno.  Borland, 
R.  P.  Tolman, 
Calvin  Haven, 
Josiah  Salisbury, 
Charles  Hood, 
Wm.  Ladd, 
Joshua  Child, 
Elias  Haskell, 
Francis  Stanton, 


David  Dudley, 
Edward  Gray, 
James  Mann, 
Charles  I  lay  ward, 
William  Ropes, 
Ebenezer  Parker, 
Wm.  Worthington, 
Lewis  Leland, 
Edmund  Mtinro, 
Isaac  McLellan, 
John  Tyler, 
E.  Brigham, 
Isaac  Parker, 
John  E.  Tyler, 
Robert  G.  Shaw, 
John  Baxter, 
Lemuel  Packard,  Jr., 
John  Peters, 
John  French, 
Geo.  Hay  ward, 
Sam'l  Clarke, 
Wm.  S.  Shaw, 
Aa.  Hill, 
Josiah  Bradlee, 
Nathan  Davis, 
John  Bellows, 
Edward  Reynolds, 
William  Mackay, 
Joseph  Callender, 
Samuel  Gore, 
J.  Putnam, 
Thomas  J.  Prince, 
James  Dennie, 
Benj.  Rich, 
Jno.  M.  Marston, 
Henry  D.  Gray, 
Wm.  Masters, 
George  Pratt, 
Samuel  Bates, 
Samuel  Blake, 
Elisha  G.  Scudder, 
Asa  Whitney, 
Thomas  II.  Ward, 
Thomas  West, 
Nathan  Rice, 
James  Allen, 
Abel  Adams, 
Horatio  II.  Fiske, 


John  Chandler, 
John  Osborn, 
Josiah  Knapp, 
J.  W.  II  ay  ward, 
Israel  Munson, 
Charles  Thacher, 
John  Bryant, 
William  Eager, 
Isaac  Hall, 
Lemuel  Crackbon, 
J.  and  S.  Jenney, 
Wm.  Tucker, 
II.  Blanchard, 
Calvin  Bailey, 
Henry  Ilovey, 
R.  Elwell, 
Perrin  May, 
Enoch  Clap, 
Peter  Coffin, 
D.  D.  Rogers, 
Jno.  Baker, 
Joshua  lluntington 
N.  Joy, 
Geo.  Homer, 
John  Brazer, 
Wm.  Foster,  Jr., 
J.  Prince, 
Redford  Webster, 
Thomas  B.  Wales, 
Tristram  Barnard, 
Thomas  Curtis, 
Nehemiah  Parsons, 
Thomas  Cordis, 
Joseph  Moseley, 
John  F.  Priest, 
Edward  D.  Peters, 
Philip  Curtis, 
Prince  Hawes, 
Samuel  L.  Abbot, 
John  Tappan, 
Howland  Cowing,  Jr., 
A.  P.  Cleaveland, 
Joseph  II.  Dow, 
Henry  Chapman, 
Isaac  Jenney, 
Samuel  Billings, 
John  Dodd, 
Charles  A.  Dennet 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  33 

This  petition  was  referred  by  the  town  to  a  Special 
Committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  BEDFORD  WEBSTER, 
THOMAS  L.  WINTHROP,  ELISHA  TICKNOR,  JAMES  PRINCE, 
SAMUEL  MAY,  JOHN  D.  WILLIAMS,  JAMES  SAVAGE,  BEN 
JAMIN  WEST,  and  THOMAS  JACKSON.  On  the  3d  of 
June  this  committee  made  their  report  as  follows: 

The  Committee  appointed  at  the  Town  meeting  on  the 
25th  of  May,  to  consider  the  subject  of  the  petition  of  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants,  for  the  establishment  by  the  town 
of  schools  for  children  under  seven  years  of  age,  having 
attentively  considered  the  same,  ask  leave  respectfully  to 
report. 

That,  in  their  opinion,  the  opening  of  such  schools  for 
children  under  the  age  of  seven  years,  is  highly  expedient 
and  necessary;  that  several  hundred  children  of  that  age 
do  not  attend  any  school,  because  the  Charity  Schools  are, 
in  most  instances,  provided  only  for  female  children,  being 
under  the  inspection  of  ladies,  their  founders ;  and  the  pri 
vate  schools  are  so  expensive  that  many  parents  find  it  diffi 
cult  to  defray  that  expense;  that  the  examination  of  the 
circumstances  of  the  several  parts  of  the  town  in  this  respect, 
made  last  July,  presented  a  return  by  which  it  is  found  that 
two  hundred  and  eighty-three,  between  the  ages  of  four  and 
seven  years,  did  not  attend  any  school;  but  from  inquiry 
of  some  of  the  gentlemen  who  made  the  returns,  the  Com- 
mittee  are  satisfied  that  many  children  of  that  age  were 
omitted,  their  parents  or  guardians  being  unwilling  to 
acknowledge  that  they  were  sent  to  no  school.  That  the 
Committee,  with  greater  confidence,  recommend  the  adop 
tion  of  such  a  course,  because  most  of  the  towns  in  this 
Commonwealth  provide  *  schools  for  children  four  years 
old  equally  with  others,*  and  particularly  is  this  adhered  to 
in  the  large  towns  of  Salem,  Newburyport,  and  Portland; 
that  the  best  mode  of  providing  such  schools,  seems  to  them 
5 


34  ORIGIN   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

to  be  by  the  guidance  and  direction  of  three  gentlemen  from 
each  ward,  of  sufficient  activity,  firmness,  discretion  and 
energy,  to  be  nominated  by  the  School  Committee. 

The  Committee  also  submitted  the  following  votes 
as  expressive  of  the  action  to  be  taken  by  the  town  : 

Voted,  That  the  School  Committee  be  instructed,  in  the 
month  of  June,  annually,  to  nominate  and  appoint  three  gen 
tlemen  in  each  Ward,  whose  duty  collectively  shall  be  to 
provide  instruction  for  children  between  four  and  seven 
years  of  age,  and  apportion  the  expenses  among  the  several 
schools. 

Voted,  That  $5,000  be  appropriated  out  of  the  Town 
treasury  for  the  purpose  in  the  foregoing  vote  expressed, 
to  be  paid  by  the  Treasurer  on  warrants  drawn  on  him  in 
the  same  manner  as  warrants  are  for  the  expenses  of  the 
other  town  schools. 

This  report  was  presented  June  3d,  and  postponed 
to  an  adjourned  meeting  held  on  the  llth  of  the 
same  month,  at  which  time  its  acceptance  was  opposed 
by  Hon.  HARRISON  G.  OTIS,  Judge  PETER  0.  TIIACHER,  and 
several  other  gentlemen,  and  was  supported  with  elo 
quent  earnestness  by  Messrs.  ELISHA  TICKNOR,  LEWIS 
TAFPAN,  JAMES  SAVAGE  and  THOMAS  B.  WAIT;  the  lat 
ter  was  a  practical  printer,  and  had  never  before  spoken 
in  public,  but  on  this  occasion  he  expressed  his  views 
with  such  clearness  and  effect  as  to  render  the  elo 
quent  opposition  of  Mr.  Otis  unavailing,  and  the  report 
and  votes  were  adopted  almost  unanimously.  By 
another  vote,  "  $5,000  was  added  to  the  estimate  of 
the  expenses  of  the  ensuing  year  to  carry  the  same 
into  effect" 


ORIGIN    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  35 

The  whole  measure  was  thus  triumphantly  carried 
by  the  people,  in  opposition  to  the  Selectmen  and 
School  Committee,  who,  with  one  or  two  exceptions, 
were  entirely  hostile  to  the  project;  for  some  reason, 
they  were  most  singularly  sensitive  in  regard  to  it, 
and  it  was  believed  to  have  been  from  their  solicita 
tion  that  Mr.  Otis  was  induced  to  use  his  persuasive 
eloquence  in  opposition  to  it.  To  them  the  result 
was  as  mortifying  as  it  was  unexpected,  inasmuch,  as 
they  had  confidently  anticipated  a  different  effect, 
from  the  popularity  of  Mr.  Otis,  and  the  consideration 
of  the  views  involved  in  their  report  of  the  30th  of 
October,  and  were  entirely  unprepared  for  so  marked 
and  signal  a  defeat.  They,  however,  gracefully  sub 
mitted  to  the  circumstances,  and  in  conformity  with 
the  foregoing  instructions,  a  meeting  of  the  School 
Committee  was  held  on  the  16th  of  June,  and  the 
following  gentlemen  were  chosen  as  the  first  Primary 
School  Committee  to  carry  into  execution  the  vote 
of  the  town : 

Ward  1.  Rev.  HENRY  WARE,  N.  G.  SNELLING,  EGBERT 
FENNELLY. 

Ward  2.  BEDFORD  WEBSTER,  LEWIS  LELAND,  SAMUEL 
HIGHBORN. 

Ward  3.  JAMES  W.  BURDITT,  JOSIAH  MARSHALL,  Captain 
SAMUEL  HOUSE. 

Ward  4.  Rev.  J.  M.  WINCHELL,  BENJ.  T.  WELLS,  NATHAN 
WEBB. 

Ward  5.  Rev.  THOMAS  BALDWIN,  SAMUEL  GORE,  Dr. 
BENJ.  SHURTLEFF. 

Ward  6.  Rev.  PAUL  DEAN,  WILLIAM  THURSTON,  Rev. 
DANIEL  SHARP. 


36  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Ward  7.  Hon.  BENJ.  AUSTIN,  SAMUEL  COVERLY,  Dea. 
MOSES  GRANT. 

Ward  8.  JOHN  DORR,  SHUBAEL  BELL,  DAVID  W.  CHILD. 

Ward  9.  SAMUEL  MAY,  JAMES  SAVAGE,  WILLIAM  BROWN. 

Ward  10.  THOMAS  L.  WINTHROP,  HENRY  CHAPMAN,  GARD 
NER  L.  CHANDLER. 

Ward  11.  ELISHA  TICKNOR,  BENJ.  Kicn,  JOHN  BELLOWS. 

Ward  12.  WILLIAM  DALL,  BENJ.  WEST,  THOMAS  B.  WAIT. 

1818. 

The  gentlemen  thus  appointed  met  on  the  22d  of 
June,  1818,  and  organized  themselves  by  the  choice  of 
THOMAS  L.  WINTIIROP,  Esq.,  as  Chairman,  and  JAMES 
SAVAGE,  Esq.,  as  Secretary. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  on  Monday,  July 
20th,  1818,  it  was- 

I         Voted,   That  the  Secretary  cause  all   the  votes  and  doings 
I     of  this  Board,  relative  to  the  establishment  of  Primary  Schools, 
so  far  as  concern  the  duties  of  the  several  Ward  Committees, 
to  be  printed  and  transmitted  to  each  of  them  for  their  gov 
ernment. 

In  obedience  to  this  vote,  the  Secretary  transmitted 
the  following  to  the  several  committees : — 

Voted,  That  each  School  shall  be  opened  and  directed  by 
I  the  Committee  of  the  Ward  in  which  it  is  placed ;  consulting, 
if  it  stand  near  another  Ward,  the  Committee  of  that  Ward. 
To  the  same  shall  belong  the  duty  of  procuring  a  suitable 
room,  of  engaging  competent  Mistresses,  and  controlling  all 
matters  relating  to  the  establishment.  They  shall  visit,  and 
inquire  into  the  state  of  the  school  or  schools  under  their 
charge  at  least  once  a  month,  and  oftener  if  convenient.  They 


ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS.          37 

shall  make  a  statement,  of  all  important  matters  relating 
thereto,  at  each  quarterly  meeting  of  this  Board,  to  be  holden 
on  the  third  Tuesday  of  September,  December,  March  and 
June. 

It   shall  be  the  duty  of   the  Mistress,  besides  the  usual 
business  of  teaching,  to  keep  account  of  the  absence  or  negli 
gence  of  the  children,  and  make  weekly  reports  to  the  Ward 
Committee,  whose  duty,  thereupon,  shall  be  to  visit  the  parents 
and  endeavor  to  secure    regular  attendance.      She  shall  be  i 
also  required  to  pay  particular  regard  to  the  neatness  and  ^ 
cleanliness  of  the  children. 

It  has  also  been  Voted,  that  for  the  purpose  of  general 
provision  for  instruction  of  children  under  our  authority, 
between  the  ages  of  four  and  seven  years,  including  the  ex-  • 
penses  of  rent,  fuel  and  all  other  charges  for  the  year  ending 
the  thirtieth  day  of  June  next,  the  portion  of  this  Committee 
nominated  for  Ward  No.  1  be  allowed  to  expend  the  sum  of 
four  hundred  and  eighty  dollars,  and  no  more;  the  portion 
nominated  for  Ward  No.  2,  the  sum  of  seven  hundred  and 
twenty  dollars,  and  no  more;  the  portion  nominated  for 
Ward  No.  3,  the  sum  of  seven  hundred  and  twenty  dollars, 
and  no  more ;  the  portion  nominated  for  Ward  No.  4,  the 
sum  of  two  hundred  and  forty  dollars,  and  no  more ;  the 
portion  nominated  for  Ward  No.  5,  the  sum  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  dollars,  and  no  more ;  the  portion  nominated  for 
Wards  Nos.  6  and  7,  the  sum  of  seven  hundred  and  twenty 
dollars,  and  no  more;  the  portion  nominated  for  Wards 
Nos.  8  and  9,  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  dollars, 
and  no  more ;  the  portion  nominated  for  Wards  Nos. 
10  and  11,  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  dollars,  and  no 
more ;  the  portion  nominated  for  Ward  No.  12,  the  sum  of 
seven  hundred  and  twenty  dollars,  and  no  more  —  at  the  dis 
cretion  of  the  several  portions  of  this  Committee  thus  divided 
respectively ;  provided,  however,  that  the  portions  of  the 
Committees  for  any  two  or  more  Wards  or  divisions  may 


38  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

unite  the  whole  or  any  part  of  the  funds  hereby  to  them 
assigned  for  expenditure,  at  their  discretion,  in  establishing 
one  or  more  schools  on  the  Lancasterian  plan,  or  in  the  usual 
mode,  in  any  parts  of  the  Wards  or  divisions  they  represent, 
for  children  of  the  age  above  specified,  and  that  all  the  several 
sub-committees  hereby  constituted,  make  report  of  their  pro 
vision  in  every  respect  to  this  Board  at  their  next  meeting. 

Under  these  instructions,  the  several  Ward  Com 
mittees  entered  upon  their  duties,  each  of  them  electing 
a  Chairman,  Treasurer  and  Secretary  ;  and  the  records 
of  Wards  Nos.  6  and  7  are  presented  as  an  example  of 
the  manner  in  which  these  duties  were  performed : — 

"  Boston,  August  9,1818.  —  Miss  Maria  Bates  com 
menced  teaching  School  No.  1,  in  Ward  No.  G,  situated 
in  Leverett  Street,  at  the  rate  of  $170  per  ann.  for  her 
services." 

"  August  10.  —  Hired  of  Mr.  A.  F.  Lane,  a  room  for 
the  above  school  at  $1  per  wreek." 

u  Boston,  August  10,1818.  —  Miss  Sarah  Rice  com 
menced  School  No.  2,  in  Ward  No.  6,  situated  in  Cam 
bridge  Street,  at  $240  per  annum,  she  finding  fuel  and 
school  room.^ 

"Boston,  August  10,  1818.  — Miss  Sally  Jewett  com 
menced  teaching  School  No.  3,  in  Ward  Nos.  6  &  7,  at 
the  rate  of  $170  per  ann.  Room  hired  of  Mr.  Taylor 
at  $1  per  week.  Said  school  is  situated  in  South  Rus 
sell  Street." 

"  Committee  for  the  District  composed  of  Wards  Nos.  6  and  7, 
for  1818-19,  commencing  in  June  annually. 

For  Ward  No.  6.  For  Ward  No.  7. 

Rev.  Paul  Dean,Cte>';2  &  Treas.  Mr.  Samuel  Co verly,  Serfy. 
Rev.  Daniel  Sharp.  Hon.  Benj.  Austin. 

Dea.  Moses  Grant.  William  Thurston,  Esq." 


ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS.  39 

The  Committee  of  Ward  No.  6,  for  the  establishmnent  and 
superintendence  of  the  Primary  Public  Schools,  beg  leave  to 
Report — 

That  they  have  established  two  Schools  in  their  Ward,  and 
one  in  conjunction  with  the  Committee  of  Ward  No.  7. 

The  School  No.  1,  in  Ward  No.  6,  is  situated  in  Leverett 
Street,  on  the  east  side ;  is  taught  by  Miss  Bates ;  tickets  of 
admission  have  been  given  to  fifty-five  scholars  j  and  about 
forty-five  attend  daily. 

School  No.  2,  in  Ward  No.  6,  is  situated  in  Cambridge 
Street,  on  the  north  side ;  is  taught  by  Miss  Rice ;  tickets 
for  sixty  children  have  been  issued,  and  forty-five  to  fifty 
children  attend  daily. 

School  No.  3,  for  Wards  G  and  7,  is  situated  in  South  Rus 
sell  Street ;  is  taught  by  Miss  Jewett.  This  school  is  more 
immediately  under  the  management  of  the  Committee  of  Ward 
No.  7,  who  will  make  a  report  on  the  subject. 

These  Schools  were  put  in  operation  on  the  first  of  August; 
and  your  Committee  have  pleasure  in  communicating  the 
satisfaction  they  feel  in  perceiving  the  decent  and  cleanly 
appearance  of  the  children  generally,  in  their  good  conduct,  in 
the  good  order  and  subordination  introduced  into  the  Schools, 
and  the  evident  improvement  already  made  by  the  children. 
All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

PAUL  DEAN,  Chairman. 
Boston,  Sept.  15,  1818. 

1819. 

On  the  31st  of  May,  1819,  the  Primary  School  Board 
presented  their  first  report  to  the  Town,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  copy  : — 


40  ANNALS   OF   TUB  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

AT  a  legal  meeting  of  the  Inhabi 
tants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  held  at 
Faneuil  Hall,  on  Monday,  the  31st  day 
of  May,  A.  D.  1819. 

The  following  REPORT  w^as  read, 
accepted,  ordered  to  be  printed,  and 
distributed  for  the  information  of  the 
Inhabitants,,  Attest, 

THOMAS  CLARK,  Town  Clerk. 
REPORT. 

PURSUANT  to  the  vote  of  the  Town  on  the  llth  day  of  June 
last,  the  School  Committee  soon  after  nominated  and  ap 
pointed  three  gentlemen  in  each  ward  "  to  provide  instruction 
for  children  between  four  and  seven  years  of  age,  and  appor 
tion  the  expenses  among  the  several  schools."  Of  these  gen 
tlemen  all  but  two  accepted,  and  have  served.  The  Board 
was  organized  on  the  23d  day  of  June,  by  choosing  Thomas 
L.  Winthrop,  Esquire,  Chairman,  and  James  Savage,  Esquire, 
Secretary. 

On  the  2d  day  of  July,  the  Board  resolved  that  the  Com 
mittee  of  each  Ward  "  ascertain,  by  personal  inquiry,  the 
number  of  children  between  the  ages  of  four  and  seven; 
state  who  do,  and  who  do  not,  attend  any  school,  as  also 
those,  whose  parents  are  desirous  of  availing  themselves  of 
this  right;  and  report  the  names  and  place  of  residence." 
This  was  a  very  arduous  duty ;  and  the  result  of  the  inquiry 
was  highly  interesting  to  the  Board.  The  number  between 


ANNALS  OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  41 

four  and  seven  years  old,  exclusive  of  about  half  of  Ward 
No.  7,  from  which  the  Committee  made  no  return,  amounted 
to  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-three.  Of  these, 
though  five  hundred  and  thirty-two  only  did  not  attend  any 
school,  thirteen  hundred  and  thirty  were  desirous  of  instruc 
tion  at  the  new  schools.  The  number  who  attended  no 
school  was  nearly  double  that  of  the  return  made  the  pre 
ceding  year,  but  not  larger  than  was  expected  to  be  found. 
A  comparison  of  the  result,  in  each  year,  from  all  the  Wards, 
will  assist  us  in  judging  of  their  correctness. 

Wards.  1817.  1818. 

No.  1  57  46 

2  52  86 

3  26  45 

4  9  14 

5  8  20 

6  20  37 

7  7  34 

8  6  29 

9  13  72 

10  62 

11  23  46 

12  56  101 

Total,  283  532 

To  provide  instruction  for  that  number,  the  grant  of  money 
by  the  town  was  very  liberal,  and  was  indeed  considered  by 
(the  favorers  of  the  experiment  adequate  to  furnish  schooling 
for  seven  or  eight  hundred  children.  But,  when  we  ascer 
tained  that  above  thirteen  hundred  would  demand  the  care 
of  the  Board,  it  became  a  matter  of  great  difficulty  to  divide 
the  sum  granted  in  such  a  way  as  to  approach  nearest  to  a 
fulfilment  of  the  vote  of  the  town,  with  which  a  perfect 


42  ANNALS   OF    THE  PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

compliance    seemed   utterly   impracticable.      We    could  not 
satisfactorily  arrange  this  difficulty  before  the  20th  of  July. 

As  the  pupils  were  of  such  tender  age,  they  could  not  be 
required  to  go  far  from  home ;  and  schools  must,  therefore, 
be  opened  in  sections  of  the  Wards.  To  ensure  health  and 
improvement,  their  number  in  each  school  should  be  small ; 
and  to  such  an  instructor,  as  alone  ought  to  be  employed, 
the  compensation  could  hardly  fall  short  of  two  hundred 
dollars.  Rent,  fuel,  benches  and  other  incidental  charges 
might  have  reasonably  been  expected  to  exceed  fifty  dollars 
for  each.  But  the  Board  were  resolved  to  open  twenty 
schools,  and  we  were  of  necessity  stinted  to  that  amount. 
It  was  generally  agreed  by  us,  that  the  children  in  one  school 
should  not  exceed  forty-five,  and  be  confined,  if  practicable,  to 
forty.  The  money  was  divided  by  vote  among  the  several 
Committees  from  the  Wards,  and  schools  were  opened  exclu 
sively  for  such  free  scholars  as  the  Committees  received  in 
every  Ward  but  two.  These  two  Wards  were  unitedly  al 
lowed  from  our  fund  enough  to  maintain  two  schools,  or  one- 
tenth  of  the  whole ;  but  it  seemed  expedient  to  the  Committee 
of  that  united  district  to  agree  with  mistresses,  having  already 
established  schools  to  receive  from  the  Committee  an  addition 
of  pupils  at  a  stated  rate  for  each.  Five  teachers  have  been 
by  them  employed  in  this  manner.  The  rate  of  ten  cents 
per  week,  with  allowance  of  two  dollars  for  winter's  fuel,  for 
each  child,  making  seven  dollars  and  twenty  cents  a  year,  is 
now  found  to  be  much  higher  than  that  which  the  instruction 
in  other  Wards  demanded,  where  the  expense  of  each  pupil 
has  fallen  short  of  five  dollars. 

Most  of  the  schools  were  opened  in  August,  and  all  by  the 
first  week  of  September,  and  all  have  continued  without 
interruption. 

The  calculations,  even  of  such  citizens  as  were  most  solici 
tous  for  the  establishment  of  these  schools,  have  all  estimated 
too  low  the  number  of  children  for  whom  we  find  it  necessary 
to  provide  instruction.  Though  a  large  portion,  probably 


ANNALS    OP    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

half  of  our  people  would  prefer  to  pay  teachers  of  their  own 
private  selection  for  instructing  their  children  of  sucli  an  age ; 
and  though  the  never-tiring  benevolence  of  many  has  provided 
schools  for  several  hundred  others,  yet,  in  every  instance,  the 
schools  opened  by  the  Board  have  been  filled  beyond  the  limit 
we  desired  to  prescribe.  We  should,  however,  observe,  that 
several  of  the  instructors,  having  daughters  of  age  to  afford 
assistance  to  their  mothers,  the  Committees  have  been  satis 
fied  with  permitting  sixty,  and  in  one  instance  seventy,  in 
another  eighty  pupils  in  one  school.  In  only  two  of  those 
eighteen  schools  provided  solely  for  the  free  instruction  has 
the  number  been  smaller  than  fifty ;  and  on  the  second  week 
of  March,  when  our  instructors  returned  all  under  their 
tuition,  the  amount  was  eleven  hundred  and  eighteen.  Large 
as  this  number  will  appear,  the  Board  are  satisfied,  that  a 
considerable  addition  should  the  current  year  be  provided 
for  j  and  from  computation  carefully  made  we  conceive  thirty- 
two  schools  for  such  children  will  be  needed.  At  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  dollars  each,  a  grant  of  eight  thousand  dollars 
would  be  requisite. 

Two  considerations,  among  several  others  more  apparent, 
powerfully  operate  to  produce,  in  the  minds  of  the  gentlemen 
at  the  Board  the  year  past,  a  conviction  of  the  importance 
and  necessity  of  this  system  of  free  schools  for  young  chil 
dren,  which  they  wish  to  submit  to  the  consideration  of  their 
fellow-citizens.  The  first  is,  that  our  schools  have  been  con 
stantly  pressed  to  admit  a  number  of  children  in  every  part 
of  the  town  above  seven  years  old,  who,  having  been  unable  to 
acquire  a  little  acquaintance  with  English  reading,  or  even  the 
letters  of  our  alphabet,  are  excluded  from  the  Public  Schools. 
This  grievance  we  could  not  remedy ;  but  if  the  new  schools 
for  children  of  younger  age  be  continued,  the  evil  will,  in  a 
great  measure,  soon  be  removed.  The  second  is,  that  very 
many  children,  whose  parents  are  able  in  summer  to  afford 
them  schooling  at  nine-pence  or  a  shilling  a  week,  are  deprived 
in  winter,  when  fire  money  is  asked  by  the  instructors, 


44  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

which  the  parents  cannot  easily  pay,  of  all  teaching,  and  so 
lose,  at  that  season,  all  their  former  acquisition  in  letters. 
Three  private  schools  in  one  Ward,  where  the  mistresses  had 
twelve  scholars  each,  have  been,  by  this  defect,  reduced  one 
to  nine,  and  the  other  two  to  six  pupils  each.  But  the  chil 
dren  for  whom  we  have  been  required  to  provide  instruction 
have  attended  with  remarkable  punctuality,  not  less  in  winter 
than  in  summer. 

The  result  of  our  experiment  has  certainly  been  encour 
aging,  and  we  confidently  state  that  the  improvement  in  all 
our  schools  has  been  far  superior  to  our  expectations.  We 
found  many  parents,  on  our  first  inquiry,  indifferent  about 
sending  their  children  to  these  schools,  though  they  regularly 
attended  no  other.  Perhaps  mistaking  the  establishment  for  a 
charitable  one,  their  pride  revolted  from  acknowledging  that 
they  needed  assistance;  yet,  since  the  operation  has  pro 
ceeded,  they  have  almost  invariably  desired  admission  for 
them.  Of  the  children  received,  one  half  in  some  parts 
of  the  town,  and  one-third  in  general,  were  ignorant  of  their 
letters,  of  whom  many  can  now  read  in  the  New  Testament, 
and  several  from  each  school  are  prepared  for  admission  at 
the  town  grammar  schools,  who  must  have  been,  we  are  con 
fident,  otherwise  rejected.  In  most  of  our  schools,  the  girls 
-  have  been  taught  knitting  or  sewing  as  well  as  reading.  The 
several  Committees  are,  by  a  regulation  of  the  Board,  required 
once  a  month,  at  least,  to  visit  the  schools  under  their  par 
ticular  care ;  and  a  return  of  the  state  of  each  is  demanded  at 
our  quarterly  meetings. 

All  which  is  submitted. 

ELISHA  TICKNOR. 

BENJAMIN  AUSTIN. 

THOMAS  B.  WAIT. 

NATHAN  WEBB. 

THOMAS  BALDWIN. 

HENRY  WARE. 

JAMES  SAVAGE. 


ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  45 

This  is  the  first  Annual  Report  of  the  first  Committee 
of  the  Primary  Schools,  and  it  is  exceedingly  interest 
ing,  from  the  amount  of  general  information  it  pre 
sents,  and  as  developing  the  organization  and  arrange 
ment  of  the  duties  of  the  Board,  which  were  so  wisely 
and  carefully  ordered,  and  have  proved  so  well  adapted 
to  the  purpose,  that  no  fundamental  changes  were  after 
wards  deemed  advisable  or  necessary. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Committee  having  been  thus 
approved  by  the  town,  in  conformity  with  the  recom 
mendation  in  their  Report,  an  appropriation  of  $8,000 
was  voted  for  the  expenses  of  the  second  year,  1819- 
20 ;  and  in  June  the  School  Committee  appointed  the 
Primary  Committee  for  the  year.  Messrs.  Webster, 
Wells,  Burditt,  Marshall,  Gore,  Dorr,  Bell,  Child  and 
Rich  having  resigned,  the  following  gentlemen  were 
appointed  in  their  place  :  Thomas  Fracker,  Dr.  Horace 
Bean,  James  Davis,  Thomas  J.  Bordman,  Dr.  Geo.  C. 
Shattuck,  Peter  Mackintosh,  Jr.,  Dr.  Samuel  Clarke, 
Edward  Phillips,  G.  L.  Chandler,  and  Pliny  Cutler.  At 
the  first  meeting,  after  their  appointment,  the  Board 
reflected  Mr.  WINTHROP  as  Chairman,  and  Mr.  SAVAGE  as 
Secretary ;  and,  encouraged  by  the  confidence  of  their 
townsmen,  proceeded  with  increased  energy  to  perfect 
the  arrangements  for  successfully  carrying  on  their 
work. 

At  a  quarterly  meeting,  December  21,  1819,  a  Sub- 
Committee  was  appointed  "  to  consider  of  all  subjects 
proper  for  the  consideration  of  the  Board  ; "  and  in  the 
reports  of  this  Committee,  which  was  presented  and 
accepted  March  21,  1820,  a  simple  code  of  Rules  and 
Regulations  for  the  Committee  and  the  Schools  was 


46  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

adopted.  The  last  section  of  this  report  particularly 
claims  our  attention  as  originating  the  Executive  or 
Standing  Committee,  and  defining  its  relation  to  the 

Board. 

REPORT. 

The  Sub-Committee,  appointed  at  the  stated  quarterly 
^  meeting  of  the  Primary  School  Committee,  on  the  21st  of 
December  last,  to  consider  of  all  subjects  proper  for  the 
consideration  of  this  Board,  have  attended  to  that  service, 
and  beg  leave  to  report  the  following  as  the  result  of  their 
inquiry,  viz. : 

1st.  That  each  of  the  school-mistresses  shall  stand  on 
equal  terms  in  point  of  compensation. 

2d.  That  all  the  schools  shall  be  as  nearly  equal  in  point 
of  numbers  as  may  be,  it  being  desirable  that  none  have  more 
than  fifty,  nor  less  thB,u  forty,  as  constant  attendants. 

3d.  That  the  pupils  in  each  of  the  schools  shall  be 
arranged  into  four  classes,  viz. :  Those  who  read  in  the  Tes 
tament  shall  be  in  the  First  Class;  those  in  easy  reading, 
in  the  Second  Class;  those  who  spell  in  two  or  more  syl 
lables,  in  the  Third  Class;  those  learning  their  letters  and 
monosyllables,  in  the  Fourth  Class;  and  that  the  books 
be  the  same  in  every  school,  for  each  pupil  hereafter  entering. 

4th.  That  no  pupil  shall  be  received  into  the  Primary 
Schools  without  a  ticket  of  admittance  from  one  of  the  Ward 
or  District  Committees. 

5th.  That  returns  from  each  of  the  schools  shall  be  made 
quarterly  by  the  instructors  to  the  District  or  Ward  Commit 
tees,  stating  the  ages  and  the  number  of  male  and  female 
pupils,  and  the  progress  of  each. 

6th.  That  each  Ward  or  District  Committee  shall  meet, 
at  least  ten  days  previous  to  the  quarterly  meeting,  to  pre 
pare  from  the  returns  of  the  several  school-mistresses  a 
report,  to  be  made  forthwith  to  the  Standing  Committee, 


ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  47 

with  said  returns,  with  such  observations  as  they  shall  please 
to  make. 

7th.  That  a  Standing  Committee  of  seven  be  appointed 
by  this  Board,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  meet  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  each  month,  to  consider  of  every  subject  relating 
to  the  Primary  Schools,  and  the  same  to  visit  semi-annually, 
and  report  at  every  quarterly  meeting,  recommending  any 
improvements  necessary  to  obtain  the  general  objects  of  this 
Board. 

Signed,  ELISHA  TICKNOR,  Per  Order. 

Although  this  is,  doubtless,  the  origin  of  the  Stand 
ing  Committee,  as  such,  yet  the  same  duties  had  been 
previously  performed  by  a  Sub-Committee,  correspond 
ing  in  all  respects  with  the  Standing  Committee  now 
proposed,  as  is  evident,  from  the  first  Annual  Report 
made  to  the  town  in  behalf  of  the  Board. 

The  report  having  been  adopted,  the  following  gen 
tlemen  were  elected  as  the  Standing  Committee  by 
the  Board :  Elisha  Ticknor,  Rev.  Paul  Dean,  Rev.  Henry 
Ware,  Deacon  Moses  Grant,  James  Savage,  Thomas  B. 
Wait,  and  Peter  Mackintosh,  Jr. 

1820. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1820,  the  first  meeting  of 
the  Standing  Committee,  was  held  at  the  office  of 
James  Savage,  Esq.,  at  which  all  the  members  were 
present.  After  organizing  themselves,  by  the  choice 
of  ELISHA  TICKNOR,  Esq.,  as  Chairman,  and  P.  MACKIN 
TOSH,  Jr.,  as  Secretary,  the  committee  proceeded  to 
make  arrangements  for  their  "first  semi-annual  visita 
tion;"  and  we  deem  the  details  of  that  meeting  so 


48  ANNALS   OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

interesting  as  the  basis  of  all  subsequent  semi-annual 
examinations,  that  we  cannot  forbear  introducing  the 
entire  record  on  this  occasion,  which  is  as  follows: 

It  being  the  duty  of  this  Committee  to  prepare  a  report 
relative  to  the  Primary  Schools,  to  be  communicated  at  the 
adjourned  meeting  of  the  Primary  School  Committee ;  which 
report,  when  approbated,  to  be  laid  before  the  town  for  gen 
eral  information,  it  was  judged  proper  that  our  first  semi 
annual  visitation  should  be  made  as  soon  as  may  be,  for  the 
purpose  of  furnishing  materials  for  said  report,  founded  on 
an  actual  survey  of  each  school  by  the  Standing  Committee. 
Therefore,  on  motion,  made  and  seconded,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  first  semi-annual  visitation  of  the  schools 
in  the  several  wards  be  made  on  Tuesday  and  Wednesday 
next,  being  the  28th  and  29th  instant,  in  conjunction  with  the 
respective  committees  in  the  wards.  Also, 

Voted,  That  this  Committee  be  divided  into  seven  Sub-Com 
mittees  for  that  purpose,  as  follows : 

Mr.  Wait,  for  Ward  No.  1,  3  Schools,  and  Ward  No.  4,  2 
Schools. 

Mr.  Ticknor,  for  Ward  No.  2,  4  Schools,  and  Ward  No.  7, 
1  School. 

Mr.  Grant,  for  Ward  No.  3,  4  Schools,  and  Ward  No.  8,  1 
School. 

Mr.  Savage,  for  Ward  No.  6,  3  Schools,  and  Ward  No.  5,  2 
Schools. 

Mr.  Mackintosh,  for  Ward  No.  12,  3  Schools,  one  of  which 
is  at  South  Boston. 

Mr.  Dean,  for  Ward  No.  12,  2  Schools,  and  Ward  No.  9,  3 
Schools. 

Mr.  Ware,  for  Wards  No.  10  and  11,  5  Schools.  Total,  33 
Schools. 


OF   THK 

UNIVERSITY 


ANNALS   OF     THE    PRIM  ART  -'SCHOOLS.  49 


In  order  to  produce  something  of  uniformity  in  our  inqui 
ries,  it  was  Voted,  That  each  Sub-Committee  should  ascertain 
as  follows : 

1st.  The  whole  number  of  scholars  present  at  the  visita 
tion,  designating  the  number  of  boys  and  girls. 

2d.  The  number  of  children  of  seven  years  and  upwards, 
designating  the  boys  and  girls. 

3d.  The  number  who  are  now  qualified  as  candidates  for 
the  Grammar  Schools. 

4th.  What  number  have  been  discharged  and  sent  to  the 
Grammar  Schools,  and  there  admitted  during  the  past  year. 

5th.  If  any,  and  what  number  are  admitted,  as  private 
scholars,  from  whom  tuition  money  is  received. 

6th.  The  general  state  and  condition  of  each  school;  stat 
ing  in  the  report  to  this  Committee  whether  it  be  good,  bad, 
or  indifferent ;  naming  the  ward,  the  number  of  the  school, 
the  name  of  the  teacher,  and  her  qualifications  for  her  duty. 

The  Committee  then  adjourned  to  April  10th,  at  which 
meeting  "  reports  from  personal  inspection  of  all  the  Primary 
Schools  in  town  were  made ;  and  it  was  Voted,  That  the  same 
be  committed  to  Mr.  Savage  to  prepare  a  condensed  report 
thereon." 

On  the  25th  of  April,  thejirst  report  of  the  Standing 
Committee  was  presented  to  the  Board,  and  being 
approved  by  them,  was  read  at  the  Town  meeting  in 
June.  The  brevity  and  comprehensiveness  of  the 
report,  and  the  confidence  with  which  still  further 
claims  were  made  upon  the  town,  renders  this  report 
not  less  interesting  than  the  first. 

From  it  we  learn  that  the  whole  number  of  schools 
in  March,  1820,  was  34,  and  "  that  from  these  nurseries 
171  children  had  been  advanced  to  the  English  Gram 
mar  Schools,  and  177  more  were  found  qualified  for 

7 


50  ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

admission  therein,"  .  .  "  making  a  total  of  348  pupils, 
prepared  for  the  English  Grammar  Schools  "  during  the 
year.  The  whole  number  belonging  to  the  Primary 
Schools  was  1,GGG,  of  whom  1,409  were  present  at  the 
examinations.  The  conclusion  of  the  report  is,  "  that, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  Committee,  the  grant  of  §8,000 
by  the  Town,  made  last  year,  for  the  purpose  of  ena 
bling  this  Board  to  provide  instruction  for  children 
between  four  and  seven  years  of  age,  has  been  well 
appropriated,  and  that  the  good  effects  of  its  expendi 
ture  will  long  be  experienced ;  but,  inasmuch  as  that 
grant  was  made  on  a  calculation  of  the  necessity  of 
having  only  thirty-two  schools,  for  a  number  of  pupils 
less  than  this  Board  has  found  itself  obliged  to  pro 
vide  for  in  thirty-four  schools,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Town  will  perceive  the  propriety,  if  the  system  is 
thought  worthy  to  be  persevered  in,  of  making  for 
the  present  year  a  grant  larger  than  that  of  the  last 
year,  by  §500,  to  support  the  increased  establishment." 
This  report  is  "  signed,  ELISHA  TICKNOR,  Chairman.11 

In  addition  to  this  report,  prepared  for  the  town 
meeting,  Mr.  Savage  also  prepared  a  report  of  the 
returns  made  by  the  several  members  of  the  Stand 
ing  Committee,  which  was  presented  to  the  Board 
at  the  quarterly  meeting,  April  25th. 

At  the  town  meeting,  in  June,  the  report  was  read, 
accepted,  and  the  desired  appropriation  of  §8,500 
voted  for  the  year  1820-21.  In  the  annual  appoint 
ment  of  the  Primary  School  Committee,  the  following 
changes  were  made : 


ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  51 

George  Darracott,  vice      Kobert  Fennelly. 

Isaac  Harris,  "         N.  G.  Snelling. 

Thomas  Wells,  «         Eev.  J.  M.  Winchell. 

Reuben  Richards,  Jr.,  "         Thos.  S.  Bordman. 

Samuel  J.  Armstrong,  "         Dr.  Benj.  ShurtlefF. 

Andrew  Green,  "         Rev.  Daniel  Sharp. 

Rev.  Sereno  E.  Dwight,'  "         Hon.  Benj.  Austin. 

Isaac  Mansfield,  "         Edward  Phillips, 

Samuel  Norwood,  "         Henry  Chapman. 

Lewis  Tappan,  "         Rev.  Dr.  T.  Baldwin. 

Thomas  Jackson,  "         John  Bellows. 

Samuel  Dorr,  «         G.  L.  Chandler. 

William  Jackson,  u         Benjamin  West. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Board,  Mr.  WINTHROP 
was  reflected  Chairman ;  and  as  Mr.  SAVAGE  declined, 
Mr.  PETER  MACKINTOSH,  Jr.,  was  elected  Secretary,  and 
Mr.  WILLIAM  BROWN,  Treasurer,  of  the  Board.  The 
Standing  Committee  was  composed  of  the  same  gen 
tlemen  as  the  previous  year,  all  the  members  having 
been  reflected.  At  a  meeting  of  this  Committee,  July 
20,  1820,  ELISHA  TICKNOR  was  chosen  Chairman,  and 
MOSES  GRANT,  Secretary.  It  was  also  "  Voted,  That  one 
dollar  per  annum  be  appropriated  to  each  school  for 
the  purchase  of  reward  books,  and  tickets  or  medals. 

"  Voted,  That  Mr.  Cutler's  and  Grant's  bills  for  small 
reward  books  and  tickets,  and  all  similar  bills  now  due, 
be  paid  by  the  Treasurer. 

"  Voted,  That  Mr.  Mackintosh  prepare  the  Rules  and 
Regulations  for  the  government  of  the  Committee." 

The  Committee  then  adjourned  to  July  23d,  at  which 
meeting  the  first  "Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  Pri 
mary  Board"  were  read  and  accepted.  They  were 


52  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

subsequently  adopted  by  the  Board  July  27th,  and 
printed  in  a  pamphlet  form.  It  appears  from  these 
"  Rules  "  and  the  records,  that  at  that  time  and  previous 
to  June,  1824,  the  officers  of  the  Primary  Board  were 
a  Chairman,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer;  the  duties  of 
the  latter  officer  were  defined  in  "Section  IV.  The 
Treasurer  shall  keep  a  fair  and  accurate  account  of  the 
moneyed  concerns  of  the  Board.  He  is  authorized  to 
receive,  from  the  Town  Treasurer,  all  the  moneys 
granted  for  the  support  of  the  Primary  Schools ;  and 
pay  the  Instructors  of  the  Schools  quarterly,  their  bills 
being  first  approved  by  the  Committee  of  the  Ward  or 
District  to  which  they  belong.  His  accounts  shall  be 
audited  or  inspected,  whenever  the  Board  may  appoint 
a  Committee  Ibr  that  purpose.  At  the  close  of  the 
year  he  shall  make  a  transcript,  or  an  abstract  of  his 
accounts  as  audited,  to  be  laid  before  the  Board." 

The  books  to  be  used  in  the  Primary  Schools  were 
selected  by  the  Standing  Committee,  and  were  adopted 
by  the  Board  at  the  same  time  with  the  "  Rules."  They 
were,  "the  Testament,  Child's  Companion,  Kelley's  Child 
Instructor,  Webster's  Only  Sure  Guide,  Pickard's  Juve 
nile  Spelling  Book,  and  Child's  First  Book  English 
Reader." 

Notwithstanding  the  gratifying  success  which  had 
attended  the  schools,  and  the  large  number  of  children 
which  were  brought  within  their  salutary  influence, 
the  benevolent  minds  of  the  Committee  were  soon 
attracted  to  the  importance  of  extending  the  benefits 
of  education  to  that  class  of  children  who  were  too  old 
to  be  admitted  to  the  Primary,  and  were  not  qualified 
to  enter  the  Grammar  Schools.  In  pursuance  of  this 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  53 

object,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  on  the  16th  of  July, 
1819,  it  was  "  Voted,  That  a  Committee  of  one  from 
each  Ward  be  appointed  to  ascertain  the  number  of 
children  in  this  town  over  seven  years  of  age,  who  are 
not  qualified  for  admission  into  the  Public  Schools,  and 
whose  parents  are  not  able  to  pay  the  expense  of  in 
struction  ;  also  of  those  children  who  are  idlers,  truants, 
and  such  as  have  no  visible  or  known  employment,  and 
who  do  not  habitually  attend  any  school,  and  report  at 
the  next  quarterly  meeting;  and  also  the  form  of  a 
memorial  to  be  presented  from  this  body  to  the  Board 
of  Selectmen  of  this  Town,  requesting  the  adoption  of 
such  measures  as  they  may  deem  proper  to  supply  the 
want  of  Schools  to  those  who  are  unqualified  to  enter 
the  Public  Schools." 

The  labor  involved  in  this  vote  required  considerable 
time,  and  the  Committee  were  unable  to  complete  their 
report  and  present  it,  until  the  quarterly  meeting  of 
the  Board  on  Tuesday,  April  25th,  1820.  It  was  then 
read  and  accepted,  as  follows : 

REPORT. 

Your  Committee,  deeming  it  highly  important,  would  state 
to  their  fellow-citizens,  that  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty  the 
past  year,  they  have  had  many  applications  for  the  admission 
to  the  Primary  Schools,  of  children  over  seven  years  of  age, 
who  were  not  qualified  to  enter  the  town  schools,  and  conse 
quently,  could  not  be  legally  benefited  either  by  the  Primary 
or  Public  Schools. 

This  induced  us  to  make  a  careful  inquiry  to  ascertain 
the  number  of  children  in  this  town  between  seven  and  four 
teen  years  of  age,  who  are  in  this  condition,  and  to  our  great 
surprise  and  grief,  we  have  found  the  number  to  exceed  three 


54  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

hundred,  and  we  entertain  no  doubt  that  the  real  number  is 
much  greater.  Some  of  these  are  truants;  some  of  them 
employed  in  street-begging,  and  all  of  them  ignorant;  and 
if  nothing  is  done  for  them,  they  seem  destined  forever  to 
remain  ignorant,  and  vicious,  and  wretched. 

These  children,  be  it  remembered,  were  born  in  as  free  and 
as  happy  a  land  as  the  earth  affords,  and  have,  as  we  believe, 
undeniable  claims  on  the  public  munificence  for  such  an  edu 
cation  as  will  enable  them  to  know,  defend,  and  enjoy  the 
civil,  religious,  and  social  privileges  of  which  they  arc  born 
the  distinguished  heirs ;  and  not  only  so,  but  if  they  are  per 
mitted  to  remain  in  their  ignorance,  insubordination,  and 
vicious  habits,  they  will  not  only  go  quickly  to  destruction 
themselves,  but  by  their  pernicious  example  and  influence, 
they  will  draw  many  others  after  them  to  the  same  deplorable 
ruin. 

A  lively  interest  in  the  welfare  of  these  unhappy  youth, 
(which  we  believe  is  also  felt  by  a  humane  and  virtuous  pub 
lic,)  has  led  us  to  consider  whether  something  could  not  be 
done  for  their  relief  and  the  public  good,  both  in  a  moral  and 
social  view;  and  the  result  of  our  reflections  has  been,  that 
one  or  more  schools  might  be  opened  at  a  trifling  expense  to 
the  town,  and  instructed  by  persons  competent  to  teach  and 
govern  them  ;  and  that  nearly  all  these  children,  whose  names, 
ages,  and  places  of  residence  we  are  already  in  possession  of, 
may  be  induced  to  attend,  and  thus  escape  the  evils  to  which 
they  are  now  exposed. 

This  evil,  which  has  been  accumulating  for  several  years, 
from  a  want  of  Primary  Schools,  will  be  remedied  in  a  few 
years,  at  farthest,  in  our  opinion,  after  which  the  Primary  and 
Public  Schools  will  be  fully  adequate. 

ELISHA  TICKNOR, 
PAUL  DEAN, 


MOSES  GRANT, 
WM.  THURSTON, 
BENJ.  SHURTLEFP, 


Sub- Committee. 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  55 

This  report  was  drawn  up  by  Kev.  Paul  Dean,  and 
appended  to  the  Annual  Report,  made  to  the  Town  by 
Mr.  Savage  at  the  Town  meeting  in  June.  The  report 
and  petition  were  referred  by  the  Town  to  the  School 
Committee,  and  by  them  committed  to  a  Sub-Com 
mittee.  But,  as  no  report  was  made  by  them,  the  Pri 
mary  Board  brought  the  subject  again  to  the  notice 
of  the  School  Committee,  who  then  recommended  to 
the  Town  an  appropriation  of  $1,000,  to  establish  a 
School  for  Mutual  Instruction,  for  the  accommodation 
of  such  children.  This  was  voted  at  a  Town  meeting, 
held  July  2d,  and  the  School  Committee  were  author 
ized  to  establish  the  school ;  the  matter  was  then 
referred  by  them  to  the  Primary  Board,  and  the  school 
was  organized  in  the  basement  room  of  the  Boylston 
School  House  on  Fort  Hill. 

This  school  was  the  first  of  that  class  of  schools  which 
subsequently  became  much  extended  under  the  name 
of  "  Intermediate  Schools." 

As  exemplifying  the  careful  supervision  of  the 
schools  at  this  time,  and  the  manner  in  which  they 
were  conducted,  we  present  the  report,  of  Mr.  ELISHA 
TICKNOR  to  the  Standing  Committee,  of  his  Semi- Annual 
visitation  to  four  schools  in  Ward  No.  2,  and  one  school 
in  Ward  No.  7,  in  March,  1820  : 

GENTLEMEN  :  According  to  your  directions,  I  have  visited 
and  examined,  in  company  with  Messrs.  Fracker,  Hichborn, 
and  Leland,  Committee  of  Ward  No.  2,  four  Primary  Schools, 
on  the  28th  instant. 


56 


ANNALS   OF   THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 


In 

.-5 

' 

!'"!£ 

|.i. 

t—  . 

t* 

*! 

i 

3 

Hi] 

&& 

11 

School  No.  1  kept  by  Miss  Turner       . 

58 

56 

22 

84 

7 

8 

8 

School  No.  2,  kept  by  Miss  Ripley,  

47 

44 

25 

19 

16 

6 

5 

School  No.  3,  kept  by  Miss  Marsh  

48 

41 

23 

18 

6 

3 

2 

School  No.  4,  kept  by  Miss  Fracker,  

68 

3*3 

12 

24 

1 

2 

221 

177 

82 

95 

30 

17 

17 

I  also  visited  and  examined  in  company 
with  Mr.  ('overly,  Committee  of  Ward 

No.  7,  School  No.  1,  kept  by  Miss  Jewett. 

68 

5G 

35 

21 

8 

9 

12 

In  visiting  these  schools,  we  proceeded  to  examine  in  the 
first  place  School  No.  2,  kept  by  Miss  Ripley.  Her  pupils 
were  neat  and  clean,  respectful  in  their  manners,  and  orderly 
in  their  behavior.  They  passed  an  excellent  examination  in 
reading  and  spelling,  and  repeating  what  they  had  learned  by 
heart.  The  young  lady,  also,  set  an  example  worthy  of  her 
pupils'  notice,  and  appeared  to  possess  those  qualifications 
both  for  governing  and  instructing,  which  are  so  desirable  for 
one  in  her  situation  to  possess.  Her  children,  she  observed, 
attended  school  punctually,  and,  with  very  few  exceptions, 
were  moral  and  civil  in  their  manners,  and  generally  clean 
and  neat  as  we  then  saw  them.  Fifteen  read  in  the  Testa 
ment.  The  books  she  taught  were  Kelley's  Spelling  Book 
and  the  Testament.  These  she  considered  as  sufficient  to 
qualify  her  pupils  for  the  Grammar  School.  She  had  no  pri 
vate  scholars.  She  taught  no  knitting  or  sewing  j  and  I  was 
sorry  for  it,  because  I  believe  a  little  manual  exercise  will 
induce  children  to  learn  more,  and  better,  and  faster,  and  will 
give  a  spirit  and  animation  to  whatever  they  undertake  to 
perform.  This  school  is  evidently  well  taught,  and  may  be 
denominated  a  good  one. 

We  then  passed  on  to  School  No.  3,  kept  by  Miss  Marsh,  suc 
cessor  to  her  mother,  lately  deceased.  It  was  neat  and  clean, 
and  there  were  evident  marks  of  good  government  and  proper 
subordination.  It  certainly  appeared  well;  the  pupils  read 


ANNALS   OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  57 

and  spelt  excellently,  and  were  desirous  to  show,  by  repeat 
ing  long  lessons  from  Scripture,  that  they  had  been  no  idlers 
in  school,  but  had  been  orderly  and  diligent.  The  Instruc 
tress  was  mild  and  dignified  in  her  manners,  and  her  scholars 
exhibited  marks  of  respect  and  attention  which  quite  satis 
fied  your  Committee.  Fourteen  read  in  the  Testament.  She 
observed  that  she  had  no  cause  to  complain  of  any  immoral 
language,  or  expressions  falling  from  the  lips  of  her  pupils, 
and  they  were  punctual  at  school.  The  books  taught  were 
Kelley's  Spelling  Book  and  the  Testament,  which  she  thought, 
also,  were  sufficient  to  qualify  her  pupils  for  the  Grammar 
School.  In  this  school  knitting  and  sewing  were  taught, 
although  none  was  exhibited. 

We  then  examined  School  No.  4,  kept  by  Miss  Fracker. 
This  school  is  a  new  one,  got  up  but  a  few  months  ago,  and 
is  not  in  that  state  of  improvement  we  could  wish ;  yet  there 
appears  to  be  no  fault  attached  to  the  instructress.  She  is 
mild  in  her  manners,  and  evidently  possessed  of  a  good  mind; 
but  whether  she  has  energy  enough  in  her  government,  and 
system  enough  in  her  mode  of  instruction,  must  hereafter  be 
determined  by  the  Ward  Committee.  This  school  is,  how 
ever,  far  from  being  properly  organized,  and  what  course  the 
Committee  can  take  to  compel  or  induce  upwards  of  thirty 
children,  irregular  in  their  habits,  to  attend  school  punctually, 
as  do  the  others,  is  beyond  my  experience  to  determine ;  but 
if  any  method  can  be  devised,  it  will  be  a  great  acquisition, 
and  a  point  gained  in  favor  of  the  Primary  School  system. 
I  think  it  may  be  done ;  but  it  will  depend  upon  the  exertion 
and  perseverance  of  the  Ward  Committee.  A  complaint  of 
•  vulgar  language  was  brought  against  one,  and  him  we  called 
up,  and  trust  that  we  shall  hear  nothing  more  on  that  subject. 
Knitting  and  sewing  were  taught  here,  and  four  read  in  the 
Testament.  In  books,  the  scholars  were  very  deficient,  evi 
dently  not  half  enough  to  serve  the  school. 

We  then  visited,  for  the  last  school  in  this  Ward,  School 


58  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

No.  1,  kept  by  Miss  Turner.  She  is,  or  I  am  greatly  mis 
taken,  one  of  the  most  accomplished  and  thorough  school 
mistresses  for  a  Primary  School  I  have  yet  seen.  On 
entering  the  school-room  we  were  received  with  respect  and 
attention,  and  all  remained  standing  till  we  were  seated; 
and  during  the  time  we  were  present,  no  disorder,  and  not 
the  least  deficiency  of  government  appeared.  I  informed 
the  young  lady  that  I  was  commissioned  to  examine  her 
school,  and  requested  to  propound  to  her  a  few  questions 
previous  to  the  examination.  These  questions  she  readily 
answered,  and  I  then  requested  her  to  take  her  own  way 
to  exhibit  to  us  the  acquirements  of  her  scholars,  together 
with  her  own  mode  or  system  of  instruction,  that  we  might 
know  exactly  what  the  scholars  had  learned,  and  what  might 
be  the  future  prospect  of  improvement.  She  began  by  calling 
upon  the  Fourth  or  youngest  class,  which  showed  me  instantly 
that  she  knew  how  to  examine  her  pupils  to  advantage,  and 
that  she  had  already  divided  her  school-  systematically  into 
four  classes,  as  the  Primary  Committee  had  agreed  at  their 
last  meeting  to  have  done.  With  this  beginning  I  was 
pleased.  The  class  then  stood  up  in  their  places  and  read  in 
words  of  one  syllable,  audibly  and  distinctly,  which  is  not 
common  for  those  of  their  standing.  They  were  then  ordered 
to  close  their  books ;  each  did  it  instantly,  and  put  his  book 
under  his  arm,  and  renewed  his  position,  and  order  of  stand 
ing.  They  then  spelt  in  a  distinct,  and  with  a  proper  tone 
of  voice,  and  sat  down.  The  Third  class  then  rose,  and 
passing  through  similar  ceremonies,  read  in  words  of  three 
or  four  syllables,  spelt,  and  were  seated.  During  this  period 
attention  and  perfect  silence  reigned  through  the  school. 
The  second  class  then  rose  in  their  place  (for  each  class  sat 
by  themselves),  and  with  like  ceremonies  they  read  in  easy 
reading,  and  spelt  quite  to  my  satisfaction.  The  first  class 
was  then  directed  to  rise.  They  read  in  the  Testament  ex 
cellently,  and  spelt,  and  sat  down.  At  this  moment  I  sup- 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  59 

posed  the  mistress  had  completed  the  exhibition  of  her  pupils, 
and  was  preparing  myself  to  address  a  few  words  to  them ; 
but  observing  a  child,  about  six  years  of  age,  at  my  right 
hand,  "Sir,"  said  the  mistress,  "Will  you  please  to  hear  the 
child  repeat  the  rules  she  has  learned  ?  "  The  child  handed  me 
Kelley's  Spelling  Book,  and  repeated  to  me  between  50  and 
GO  rules,  being  all  it  contained  in  relation  to  letters  and 
pronunciation.  At  her  remarkable  memory  and  attention  I 
was  surprised,  because  she  appeared,  at  the  same  time,  to 
understand  the  nature  of  the  rules.  "  Sir,"  said  the  mis 
tress,  "  no  child  is  allowed  to  pass  from  the  second  to  the 
first  class  who  is  unable  to  repeat  these  rules."  A  second 
repeated  to  me  all  the  reading  part  or  lessons  in  Kelley's 
Spelling  Book,  principally  made  up  of  maxims  and  important 
sentences.  A  third,  all  the  stops  and  marks  used  in  reading  • 
a  fourth,  the  use  of  all  the  capitals ;  a  fifth  repeated  a  long 
catalogue  of  words  of  similar  sound,  but  differently  spelt;  a 
sixth,  a  long  catalogue  of  vulgarisms,  such  as  vinegar,  not 
winegar  ;  vessel,  not  wesscl;  wharf,  not  vqff,  &c. ;  a  seventh,  the 
use  of  the  common  abbreviations,  such  as  A.M.,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
&c.  No  one  in  the  second  class  can  be  advanced  to  the  first 
who  has  not  committed  to  memory,  and  actually  repeated 
all  the  above  rules.  The  First  class  appears  to  be  the  place 
for  practice,  in  which  the  use  of  all  these  rules  is  taught. 
This  class  read  so  excellently,  I  imagine  they  might  all  enter 
a  second  standing  in  our  English  Grammar  Schools.  But  the 
examination  did  not  end  here;  the  mistress  sent  us  up  a 
number  of  misses  to  show  us  wristbands  they  had  stitched, 
and  button-holes  they  had  wrought  in  their  leisure  moments 
after  they  had  learned  their  lessons.  This  work  was  neat  and 
well  done,  and  creditable  to  them  and  their  instructress.  But 
this  was  not  all ;  a  boy  was  sent  up  with  a  slate,  on  which  he 
had  written  with  his  pencil  the  common  figures,  and  printed 
the  alphabet  very  handsomely ;  a  second  came  with  each  of 
the  stops  and  marks  on  his  slate,  and  repeated  to  me  their 


CO  ANNALS    OF  THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

names  and  uses ;  a  third  camo  also  and  repeated  to  me  the 
letters  standing  for  numbers,  such  as  V.  for  5,  VI.  for  6,  &c., 
all  of  which  were  very  correctly  explained. 

Thus  ended  the  examination;  the  pupils  were  neat  and 
clean,  and  punctual  at  school.  Knitting  and  sewing  were 
taught ;  and  profanity,  I  understand,  was  a  stranger  among 
these  children. 

School  No.  1,  in  Ward  No.  7,  kept  by  Miss  Jewett,  is  well 
taught.  She  is  excellently  well  qualified,  in  my  opinion,  for 
an  instructress,  and  exhibited  the  improvement  of  her  pupils 
to  great  advantage.  When  I  consider  the  part  of  the  Ward 
from  which  her  scholars  are  collected,  I  think  she  has  done 
remarkably  well,  and  but  very  few,  if  any,  have  surpassed 
her.  Could  she  be  induced  to  adopt  the  same  system  of  in 
struction  as  that  now  in  use  in  School  No.  1,  Ward  No.  2, 
her  school  would  in  a  short  time  be  much  improved ;  as  it  is 
now,  the  children  read  and  spelt  exceedingly  well.  Twenty- 
seven  read  in  the  Testament,  which  is  unusual,  considering  the 
whole  number  in  the  school.  The  children  were  neat  and 
clean  in  their  appearance,  and  attended  school  pretty  punc 
tually;  and  the  mistress  spoke  well  of  their  morals,  and 
generally  as  excellent  children.  Knitting  and  sewing  are 
taught. 

All  which  is  submitted  by 

ELISHA  TICKXOR,  Sub-Committee. 

In  addition  to  this  report,  which  was  semi-annually 
made  of  each  school,  the  teachers  were  also  required  to 
report  quarterly  to  their  district  committees,  the  names, 
ages,  and  class  to  which  each  pupil  belonged ;  the  num 
ber  of  verses  in  the  Bible  learned  by  each  pupil,  and 
the  needlework  and  knitting  done  by  the  girls  during 
the  quarter.  In  the  first  class,  in  one  of  the  schools  in 
Ward  No.  3,  the  number  of  verses  in  the  Bible  learned 
by  one  of  the  pupils  was  438,  and  the  average  for  each 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  61 

pupil  in  the  class,  267.  And,  as  an  instance  of  the  in 
dustrious  habits  encouraged  in  the  pupils,  we  learn  from 
the  report  of  another  school  in  the  same  district,  that, 
among  the  articles  of  work  done  by  the  twenty-six  girls 
of  the  school  during  the  quarter,  there  were  made  "30 
shirts,  12  pairs  of  sheets,  6  pairs  of  pillow  cases,  26 
pocket  handkerchiefs,  8  cravats,  10  infant's  frocks,  5 
coarse  bags,  4  dozen  towels,  4  pairs  of  socks,  3  pairs  of 
mittens,  and  a  number  of  small  pieces  of  work." 

1821. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  1821,  a  rule  was  adopted,  re 
quiring  the  teachers  to  report  the  visits  of  the  Ward  or 
District  Committees ;  and,  at  the  next  monthly  meeting 
of  the  Standing  Committee,  on  the  10th  of  April,  the 
Committees  were  appointed  for  the  Semi-Annual  Ex 
amination.  A  Committee  was  also  appointed  to  obtain 
information,  "relative  to  the  means  of  instruction  en 
joyed  by  the  colored  children  of  this  town,  and  report 
at  the  next  monthly  meeting." 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board,  April  28,  the 
Annual  Report,  on  the  condition  of  the  schools,  was 
made  by  Mr.  SAVAGE,  and  an  abstract  of  the  Teachers' 
returns  by  Mr.  GRANT.  From  these  documents,  it  ap 
pears  that  the  schools  had  increased,  during  the  year, 
to  36  ;  that  the  whole  number  of  children  belonging 
to  the  schools  was  1,909 ;  the  number  present  at  the 
examination,  1,666.  Mr.  Savage  was  requested  to  make 
the  usual  report  to  the  town,  which  was  presented  at 
the  Town  meeting,  in  Faneuil  Hall,  in  June,  1821. 
This  was  the  last  Annual  Report  that  was  made  by  the 
Primary  School  Board  to  the  Town ;  and  the  appropria- 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

tion  of  §9,000,  thereupon  voted,  was  the  last  which  was 
made  by  a  direct  vote  of  the  inhabitants ;  as,  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1822,  the  City  Charter  was  adopted  by 
a  vote  of  the  citizens,  and  the  Town  meetings  became 
extinct. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  May  8,  it 
was  "  Voted,  That  the  several  Ward  and  District  Com 
mittees  shall,  annually,  on  the  day  preceding  the  May 
vacation,  make  an  election  of  Instructors,  and  report 
the  same  to  the  Standing  Committee  ;  and  whenever 
they  make  any  change  of  Instructor,  at  any  other  time, 
they  shall  report  the  same,  and  give  a  certificate  of 
such  election  to  each  Instructor." 

At  the  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Standing 
Committee,  July  10,  1821,  the  death  of  their  Chairman, 
Mr.  ELISHA  TICKNOR,  was  announced  in  terms  due  to 
so  worthy  a  citizen  and  active  philanthropist.  On 
motion  of  the  Secretary,  it  was  then  "Voted,  That  a 
Chairman  be  now  elected,  by  ballot,  to  fill  the  place 
vacated  by  the  decease  of  our  lamented  friend,  Deacon 
Ticknor." 

The  simple  and  affectionate  manner  in  which  the 
death  of  Mr.  Ticknor  was  noticed  by  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  shows  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by 
those  with  whom  he  was  most  intimately  associated. 
He  was  the  earliest,  and  one  of  the  most  ardent  and 
devoted  pioneers  in  the  establishment  of  these  schools; 
his  hand  penned  the  successful  petition,  which  was 
granted  by  the  Town  ;  and,  as  the  original  Chairman  of 
the  Standing  Committee,  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
work  with  a  vigor  and  energy  worthy  of  the  cause. 
The  announcement  of  his  loss  to  the  Board,  by  his 


ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS.          63 

friend,  coadjutor,  and  successor  in  the  office,  Mr.  Savage, 
was  a  feeling  tribute  to  his  benevolence  and  public 
spirit,  and  was  most  sincerely  responded  to  by  his  asso 
ciates  on  the  Board. 

The  long-continued  and  earnest  efforts  made  by  Mr. 
Ticknor,  in  behalf  of  the  Primary  Schools,  justly  entitle 
him  to  more  than  a  passing  notice ;  and  we  believe 
that  a  few  facts  in  his  history  will  be  an  interesting  and 
agreeable  episode. 

ELISHA  TICKNOR  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Connecticut,  in 
1757,  and  lived  there  until  1774,  when  his  father  moved 
to  New  Hampshire,  and,  with  some  others,  settled  a 
town  there,  which,  in  regard  and  love  for  their  old  home 
in  Connecticut,  they  named  "  Lebanon,"  a  name  he 
town  still  bears.  Mr.  Ticknor  subsequently  removed  to 
Boston,  and  became  the  principal  of  the  Town  Grammar 
School  at  the  South  end,  and  continued  such  till  about 
the  year  1795,  when  ill  health  compelled  him  to  seek 
more  active  occupation,  in  which  he  persevered  until 
1811.  Having  at  that  time  acquired  a  moderate  com 
petency,  he  voluntarily  retired  from  all  active  business. 
His  leisure  after  this  induced  him  to  give  much  atten 
tion  to  the  condition  of  the  poorer  classes  in  Boston. 
His  early  experience  as  a  schoolmaster  made  him 
anxious  that  something  should  be  done  for  the  children 
between  four  and  seven  years  of  age,  who  were  in  a 
much  less  favored  condition  for  education  in  Boston  than 
in  some  of  the  country  towns  of  the  Commonwealth. 
His  early  impressions  of  the  necessity  of  Primary 
Schools  led  him  frequently  to  urge  their  importance 
upon  the  attention  of  his  friends,  many  of  whom  had 
been  long  deeply  interested  in  the  subject,  until,  with 


64  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

their  aid,  the  earnest  desire  of  his  heart  was  accom 
plished  ;  —  the  schools  were  established,  and  became  a 
proud  monument  to  his  memory,  and  to  the  efforts  and 
perseverance  of  himself  and  his  associates. 

Side  by  side  with  this  noble  pioneer,  was  our  highly 
esteemed,  but  now  venerable  fellow-citizen,  JAMES  SAVAGE, 
whose  public  spirit  in  the  cause  of  education  and  philan 
thropy  requires  no  encomiums  from  us.  His  character 
and  acts  are  a  public  record.  It  was  his  pen  that 
pressed  the  subject  on  the  public  mind;  it  was  he 
that  defended  the  system  through  the  public  press, 
and  replied  to  the  arguments  and  the  conclusions  in  the 
Report  of  the  School  Committee,  against  the  establish 
ment  of  Primary  Schools ;  it  was  his  pen  that,  year 
after  year,  drew  up  the  reports  of  these  schools,  for  the 
information  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  in  a 
manner  to  secure  their  confidence,  and  the  necessary 
appropriations  for  their  successful  continuance.  His 
unwearied  labors  through  the  trying  period  of  its 
organization,  and  his  devotion  to  the  duties  of  the  most 
laborious  and  responsible  offices  for  many  years,  entitle 
him  to  the  deep  and  lasting  gratitude  of  his  fellow- 
citizens,  who  have  so  long  been  the  recipients  of  the 
benefits  arising  from  this  class  of  our  schools. 

It  is  with  peculiar  pleasure,  therefore,  that  we  are 
able  to  present  several  extracts  from  a  letter  of  Mr. 
Savage,  in  answer  to  the  inquiries  of  a  friend,  in  Feb 
ruary,  1841,  in  which  he  gives  some  invaluable  remin 
iscences,  of  the  motives  and  acts,  of  the  prime  movers  in 
the  establishment  of  these  schools,  and  bears  the  most 
disinterested  testimony  to  the  early  and  active  exertions 
of  his  friend,  Mr.  Ticknor.  He  says,  "  It  was,  I  think, 


ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  65 

in  May,  1818,  that  after  conference,  for  many  weeks,  on 
the  lamentable  deficiency  of  instruction  for  a  large  class 
of  our  population,  Mr.  Ticknor,  with  myself  and  a  suf 
ficient  number  of  others,  caused  the  Selectmen  of  Bos 
ton  to  insert  an  article  in  the  warrant  for  the  Town 
meeting,  in  June,  to  see  if  the  citizens  would  authorize 
the  opening  of  schools,  at  the  public  expense,  for  chil 
dren  under  the  age  of  seven  years. 

"  At  the  Town  meeting,  I  remember,  opposition  to  the 
object  on  the  ground  solely  of  expense,  was  made  by 
Mr.  Otis  and  Judge  Thacher.  Of  support  of  the  object, 
my  memory  is  less  confident.  Mr.  Thomas  B.  Wait,  a 
printer,  I  am  confident,  spoke  with  some  effect ;  proba 
bly  Mr.  Ticknor  opened  the  discussion,  and  it  may  be  he 
was  sustained  by  Lewis  Tappan,  and  perhaps  by  myself, 
but  of  this  I  have  no  positive  recollection;  I  know, 
however,  that  the  vote  was  carried  by  a  respectable 
majority —  at  least,  two  to  one.  Five  thousand  dollars 
was  voted  by  the  Town  to  make  true  and  sufficient 
experiments ;  and  it  was  confided  to  a  large  committee, 
chiefly  of  the  petitioners,  perhaps  to  the  number  of 
twenty  or  thirty.  The  first  action  of  the  committee 
was  to  take  a  census  of  the  town  for  such  children  who 
would  need  the  instruction  at  the  public  expense,  be 
tween  the  ages  of  four  and  seven  years.  Five  thousand 
dollars  would  be  adequate  to  the  expense  of  twenty 
schools  kept  by  females ;  and  the  number  of  pupils 
who  could  be  easily  obtained  was  not  less  than  twelve 
hundred.  The  work  of  inquisition  was  most  faithfully 
performed  by  two  gentlemen,  I  believe,  in  each  of  the 
twelve  Wards;  and  no  house  or  hovel,  except  as  by 
their  occupants'  known  happy  circumstances  could  not 


66  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

be  expected  to  contain  children  whose  education  was  a 
burden  to  their  parents'  purses,  was  unvisited.  Perhaps 
the  number  of  Dames'  Schools  was  found  to  be  equal 
to  seventy  or  eighty,  but  a  majority  of  them  had  chil 
dren  to  teach  for  a  weekly  compensation  of  a  shilling, 
or  ninepence,  or  sixpence,  or  fourpencc  halfpenny  each. 
Of  course,  there  was  great  uncertainty  in  the  payment 
of  such  fees ;  and  many  a  benevolent  teacher  got  not  a 
penny  a  year,  but  furnished  books  gratis  to  the  object 
of  her  favor. 

"  Almost  infinite  difficulty  followed  the  selection  of 
teachers,  as  all  were  most  anxious  to  obtain  the  fixed 
and  certain  salary  of  the  Primary  Schools,  although  the 
yearly  rate  was  put  as  low  as  two  hundred  dollars.  But 
the  natural  result  was  to  obtain  the  best  teachers,  and 
to  improve  their  capacity  annually.  In  the  second 
year,  I  believe,  an  addition  of  fifty  per  cent,  to  the 
grant  was  made,  and  almost  every  year  since  the  in 
creasing  population  has  called  for  greater  grants,  though 
not  by  so  large  gradation. 

"  A  chief  inducement  to  Mr.  Ticknor's  exertions  was 
the  success  which*  had  attended  the  early  action  of  our 
Savings  Bank,  opened  only  in  February,  1817,  of  which 
he  was  Trustee,  and  afterwards  Treasurer. 

"  Since  the  success  of  the  first  year,  nobody  has  be 
lieved  that  the  money  of  the  public  treasury  was  better 
applied  in  any  other  direction ;  and  I  believe  that  no 
project  could  meet  with  more  universal  rejection  than 
to  abolish  the  provision  for  these  Primary  Schools.  I 
have,  for  more  than  a  dozen  years,  exonerated  myself 
from  the  personal  labor  and  responsibility  that  falls  on 
the  Primary  School  Committee,  having  been  absorbed 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  67 

V 

in  other  avocations.  But,  I  believe,  my  services  were 
given  above  ten  years ;  and,  in  these  humble  labors, 
not  a  small  part  of  my  satisfaction  arose  from  the  knowl 
edge  that,  to  this  beneficent  course  my  first  introduction 
was  by  means  of  Mr.  Ticknor,  who  turned  all  his  ardor 
and  perseverance  to  the  success  of  Primary  Schools."  .  . 

It  is  a  gratifying  circumstance  to  state  in  this  con 
nection,  that  the  interest  exhibited  by  the  father  was 
nobly  emulated  by  the  son  (Prof.  GEORGE  TICKNOR),  who, 
for  a  number  of  years,  was  an  able  and  valuable  mem 
ber  of  the  Board,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Standing 
Committee,  in  which  his  active  interest  appears,  from 
a  Semi-Annual  Report  made  by  him,  in  the  absence  of 
Mr.  Savage,  to  the  Board,  at  the  quarterly  meeting 
Nov.  19,  1822. 

In  October,  1821,  the  Semi-Annual  examination  was 
made,  and  the  Report  for  the  Board  was  prepared  by 
Mr.  LEWIS  TAPPAN.  The  number  of  schools  was  36,  and 
the  whole  number  of  pupils  belonging  1,806,  of  whom 
1,528  were  present  at  the  examinations.  Of  this  num 
ber,  885  were  girls  and  921  boys;  261  had  been  sent 
to  the  Grammar  Schools,  and  139  pupils  were  reported 
in  the  schools  who  were  over  seven  years  of  age.  The 
Instructors  were  paid  $240  per  annum  in  quarterly 
payments,  in  full  for  compensation  and  school  expenses,, 
including;  rent. 


1822. 

On  the  22d  of  May,  1822,  two  months  after  the 
organization  of  Boston,  under  a  City  Charter,  the  fol 
lowing  petition  was  presented  to  the  City  Council,  and 


68  ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

is  evidently  the  first  official  introduction  of  the  Primary 
Board  to  the  new  government :  — 

To  THE  CITY  COUNCIL  OF  BOSTON. 

The  undersigned,  a  Committee  of  the  Board  for  providing 
instruction  for  children  between  four  and  seven  years  of  age, 
appointed  by  the  General  School  Committee,  under  a  vote  of 
the  Town,  on  the  llth  of  June,  1818,  respectfully  submit  to 
the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Common  Council,  that  the  appoint 
ment  by  said  vote  directed,  may  more  usefully,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  Board,  be  made  for  Districts,  other  than  Wards,  or 
without  reference  to  Ward  lines,  but  by  Districts,  to  each  of 
which  six  gentlemen  be  appointed,  if  the  Districts  be  six,  with 
an  additional  member  for  South  Boston,  or  that  the  Board  be 
permitted  to  increase  their  own  number  by  addition,  as  the 
number  of  the  schools  increases. 

THOMAS  L.  WINTHROP,  *\ 
JAMES  SAVAGE,  *    v  Committee. 

PETER  MACKINTOSH,  JR.  ) 
Boston,  May  22,  1822. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  prepare  and  present 
this  petition  was  composed  of  the  Chairman  of  the 
Board,  the  Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee,  and 
the  Secretary  of  the  Board.  This  petition  was  not 
acted  upon  by  the  government,  in  consequence  of  the 
pressure  of  business,  arising  from  the  many  changes  re 
quired  to  be  made  to  bring  the  City  Charter  into  ef 
fectual  operation. 

In  June,  the  people  of  color  at  the  northerly  part  of 
the  city  presented  a  petition  to  the  Board  for  a  Primary 
School  in  that  section,  which  the  Standing  Committee 
deemed  it  expedient  to  refer  to  the  Grammar  School 
Committee ;  "  and  the  Secretary  was  directed  to  signify 


ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  69 

the  willingness  of  the  Primary  Board  to  undertake  the 
control  of  such  African  Primary  Schools  as  the  General 
School  Committee  may  give  them  authority  to  institute 
in  this  City,  with  such  expansion  of  powers  as  may 
thereby  be  deemed  necessary.  And  they  recommend  a 
School  in  the  North  Section,  and  another  in  the  West 
part  of  the  City,  to  embrace  the  young  Africans  from 
four  to  seven  years,  and  beyond  that,  if  necessary,  to 
qualify  them  to  enter  the  regular  African  School  in  that 
quarter." 

Upon  the  reception  of  this  petition  and  recommenda 
tion,  the  Grammar  Board  appointed  a  sub-committee 
of  their  body,  through  whom  a  school  was  established 
for  colored  children  at  the  North  end.  They  also  com 
municated  a  request  and  authority  to  the  Standing 
Committee  of  the  Primary  Board  to  establish  a  Primary 
School  for  these  children  at  the  west  part  of  the  city. 
A  sub-committee  (Messrs.  BENJ.  GUILD  and  MOSES  GRANT) 
was  thereupon  appointed  to  attend  to  the  duty ;  and  on 
the  7th  of  August,  1822,  the  first  Primary  School  for 
colored  children  was  opened  in  Belknap  Street,  in  a 
room  in  the  Kev.  Mr.  Paul's  Church,  at  an  annual  rent 
of  §72.  At  the  commencement  of  this  school,  the 
number  of  scholars  was  47  (19  girls  and  28  boys),  and 
it  was  placed  under  the  charge  of  Miss  Charlotte  Foster 
(a  young  woman  of  color),  whose  success  was  satis 
factory  to  the  Committee,  and  the  school  soon  became 
a  useful  auxiliary  to  the  Grammar  School.  The  in 
crease  of  pupils  rendered  a  second  school  necessary,  and 
it  was  established  in  December,  1822,  in  Southac  Street, 
with  only  6  pupils,  which  number,  however,  in  a  few 
weeks  was  increased  to  33.  Two  Silver  Medals  were 


70  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

purchased,  with  the  inscription  "  Reward  of  Merit  "  on 
one  side,  and  "African  Primary  School,  1822,"  on  the 
other.  The  Committee  visited  these  schools  weekly  for 
some  time  after  their  establishment,  and  much  credit  is 
due  to  them  for  their  faithful  services,  for  the  children 
were,  generally,  very  poor  and  ignorant,  many  of  them 
ten  and  twelve  years  old,  without  knowing  a  letter  of 
the  alphabet.  In  a  school  of  50  pupils,  42  were  in  the 
Alphabet  class. 

The  City  allowed  §240  to  each  school,  which  included 
the  salary  of  the  teacher,  rent  of  room,  furniture  and 
fuel ;  but  the  condition  of  the  children  was  such  as  to 
require  charitable  relief;  and  clothing,  shoes  and  books 
were  furnished  by  the  liberality  of  the  members  of  the 
Standing  Committee,  and  particularly  by  the  generous 
donation  of  $10  each  quarter  from  the  President  of  the 
Board  (Hon.  THOMAS  L.  WINTHROP),  which  continued 
until  his  resignation  of  the  office.  A  private  memoran 
dum  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  by  the  sub-com 
mittee  is  the  only  record  of  the  active  benevolence 
which  reflects  so  much  honor  upon  these  members  of 
the  Board. 

June  11,  1822,  Rev.  BENJAMIN  B.  WISNER  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Standing  Committee  in  place  of  Mr. 
THOMAS  B.  WAIT,  who  had  removed  from  the  city.  The 
resignation  of  Mr.  Wait  was  deeply  regretted  by  the 
Standing  Committee,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  origi 
nal  members,  and  had  performed  the  duties  with  great 
judgment  and  fidelity. 

In  the  arrangements,  made  by  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  for  the  semi-annual  examinations,  the  rules 
adopted  continued  to  evince  the  thorough  supervision 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  1 

which  they  felt  necessary  to  exercise  for  the  interests 
of  the  schools.  By  these  rules  the  Committee  were 
required  to  "  Examine  the  mode  of  teaching  the  pupils 
the  Alphabet,  to  ascertain  how  long  they  are  acquir 
ing  it,  and  if  the  method  can  be  improved ;  to  examine 
the  School  Register,  and  impress  upon  the  teacher  the 
necessity  of  accurate  returns ;  to  inquire  if  the  School 
has  been  regularly  examined  each  Month,  and  by  whom; 
to  allow  the  Teacher  to  conduct  the  examination  a  part 
of  the  time,  that  the  Committee  may  judge  of  her 
capacity ;  to  fill  all  the  columns  of  the  Blanks  which 
are  furnished,  and  to  offer  as  many  remarks  upon  the 
Schools  as  will  render  their  Report  interesting  and 
useful."  With  these  rules  for  their  government,  the 
schools  in  the  several  Wards  "  were  assigned  for  exami 
nation,  which  was  to  take  place  in  fair  iveather  only,  and 
previous  to  August  25th." 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  November  12, 
1822,  GEORGE  TICKNOR,  Esq.,  to  whom  was  referred  the 
Sub-Committee's  Semi-annual  Reports,  to  condense  the 
same,  read  a  very  able  and  interesting  report  on  the 
state  of  each  of  the  forty  Primary  Schools,  as  they 
appeared  at  the  late  semi-annual  visitation,  which  was 
accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  presented  to  the  Board,  at 
the  quarterly  meeting  on  the  19th  instant." 

In  October,  18223  a  Sub-Committee  of  the  Grammar 
School  Committee  made  a  report,  from  which  the  fol 
lowing  is  an  extract :  "  Your  Committee  are  bound 
in  duty  to  express  their  great  satisfaction  at  the  zeal 
and  diligence  with  which  the  gentlemen  who  have 
been  chosen  members  of  the  Committee  of  Primary 
Schools,  have  hitherto  discharged  the  duties  assigned 
them." 


72         ANNALS  OP  TUE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS. 

1823. 

In  March,  1823,  the  City  Council,  by  concurrent 
action,  authorized  the  appointment  of  a  sufficient  num 
ber  of  Primary  School  Committee,  to  allow  one  member 
for  each  school.  In  a  report  of  the  Committee  on  Pub 
lic  Instruction,  City  Document  No.  22,  which  was 
adopted,  and  ordered  to  be  printed,  April  17,  1852,  the 
following  paragraph  occurs  : 

"  The  Grammar  School  Committee  was  instructed  by  the 
people  in  town  meeting,  in  the  year  1818,  to  appoint  annually 
thirty-six  gentlemen  to  take  charge  of  the  Primary  Schools ; 
but  it  docs  not  appear  by  what  authority  this  number  has 
been  increased  from  thirty-six  to  one  hundred  and  ninety, 
or  how  it  is  that  the  Primary  School  Board  came  into  the 
possession  of  powers  which  are  not  granted  to  the  Grammar 
Board,  and  which  that  Board  has  never  presumed  to  exercise  j 
such  for  instance  as  that  of  filling  its  own  vacancies  —  unless 
it  be  that  not  having  its  duties  and  privileges  defined  by  law, 
it  became  a  law  unto  itself." 

This  is  a  grave  charge  upon  the  reputation  of  the 
Primary  Board,  and  emanating  as  it  does  from  a  Com 
mittee  of  high  official  position,  we  deem  it  our  duty  to 
present  the  official  record  of  the  petition,  and  the 
action  thereupon  of  the  City  Government,  as  transmit 
ted  to  the  Grammar  Board  by  the  City  Clerk,  which, 
with  the  subsequent  action  of  the  Grammar  and  Pri 
mary  School  Committee,  proves,  that  there  was  no 
ground  for  such  a  charge  ;  but,  that  in  this,  as  in  all 
other  acts,  the  Primary  Board  in  no  case  transcended 
the  proper  legitimate  authority  with  which  it  was 
invested. 


ANNALS    OF   THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  73 


PETITION    OF   THE   COMMITTEE    OF   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

To  the  Mayor,  Aldermen,  and  Common  Council  of  the  City  of 

Boston : 

Humbly  represent,  the  undersigned,  that  by  a  vote  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  at  a  legal  meeting,  llth  June,  1818,  the 
School  Committee  were  directed,  in  June  annually,  to  appoint 
three  persons  in  each  Ward  to  provide  instruction  for  children 
between  four  and  seven  years  of  age ;  that  said  appointment 
has  in  subsequent  years  been  annually  made,  and  that  great 
attention  to  that  trust  has  been  bestowed  by  the  several  per 
sons  so  appointed,  and  that  the  number  of  such  little  children 
now  amounts  to  about  twenty-one  hundred,  instructed  at 
forty-two  schools ;  that  these  schools  being  taught  by  females, 
require  very  frequent  visits  and  examinations,  and  that  the 
number  of  the  Committee  is  not  found  sufficient,  since  it  is 
desirable  that  each  School  should  have  one  member  of  the 
Committee  to  direct  the  admission  of  pupils,  and  to  watch 
over  the  economy  of  the  School ;  that  in  some  Wards  there 
are  but  one  or  two  Schools,  in  others,  six  or  seven.  Where 
fore,  they  being  thereunto  directed  by  the  general  Committee 
of  the  Board  for  Primary  Schools,  request  that  the  School 
Committee  may  be  authorized  to  constitute  such  an  additional 
number  of  members  for  this  purpose  as  may  be  adequate  to 
its  object,  not  less  than  fifty  being  now  needed,  or  that  this 
Board  itself  may  be  empowered  to  increase  its  number  as  to 
them  may  seem  good  j  and  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

JAMES  SAVAGE, 
MOSES  GRANT, 
P.  MACKINTOSH,  Jr., 

THOMAS  WELLS,         \   $tand!nS 
T  .^  Committee. 

LEWIS  TAPPAN, 

BENJ.  B.  WISNER, 
BENJ.  GUILD, 
10 


74  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS, 

This  petition  is  thus  endorsed : 

In  Common  Council,  March  3,  1823. 

Read,  and  committed  to  Messrs.  John  Welles  and  Amory, 
with  such  as  the  Board  of  Aldermen  may  join  to  consider 
and  report. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

WM.  PRESCOTT,  President. 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  March  6,  1823. 
Read  and  concurred,  and  Alderman  Jenkins  is  joined. 

JOHN  PHILLIPS,  Mayor. 

The  Committee,  to  whose  consideration  was  referred  the 
foregoing  petition,  arc  of  opinion  that  the  prayer  of  the 
petitioners  ought  to  be  granted,  and  that  an  order  pass  the 
City  Council,  authorizing  the  School  Committee  to  appoint 
such  additional  number  of  Superintendents  for  the  Primary 
Schools  as  they  may  deem  proper. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 
March  17,  1823.  JOSEPH  JENKINS,  Chairman. 

In  Board  of  Aldermen,  March  17,  1823. 
Read  and  accepted,  and  ordered  accordingly. 
Sent  down  for  concurrence. 

JOHN  PHILLIPS,  Mayor. 

In  Common  Council,  March  17,  1823. 
Read  and  concurred. 

WM.  PRESCOTT,  President. 
A  true  copy.     Attest, 

S.  F.  McCLEARY,  City  Clerk. 

The  foregoing  petition  was  drawn  up  by  the  Chair 
man  of  the  Standing  Committee  (Mr.  SAVAGE),  and 


ANNALS    OF  THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 


75 


adopted  at  their  meeting  on  the  1st  of  March.  The 
prompt  action,  in  relation  to  the  subject,  by  the  City 
Government,  is  evidence  that  the  popular  influence  of 
the  Primary  Schools  had  not  deteriorated  by  the  adop 
tion  of  the  City  Charter.  The  Grammar  School  Com 
mittee  having  referred  the  communication  of  the  City 
Clerk  to  the  Standing  Committee,  at  a  meeting  of  that 
body  on  the  15th  of  April,  it  was  "Voted,  That  the 
Secretary  of  the  Board  notify  a  meeting  on  the  29th, 
at  3  P.  M. ;  and  also  request  the  members  to  select  suit 
able  candidates  in  the  Districts,  where  they  will  be 
wanted  to  furnish  one  committee-man  to  each  school." 

The  Board  having,  at  this  meeting,  elected  the  proper 
number  of  members,  on  the  2d  of  July  the  Standing 
Committee  held  a  special  meeting,  the  object  of  which 
was  to  new  district  the  city,  so  as  to  make  seven  dis 
tricts,  as  nearly  equal  as  possible,  in  conformity  with 
the  duty  assigned  them  by  the  Board,  and  after  due 
deliberation,  arranged  them  as  follows,  viz. : — 


Instructors'  Names. 

Location  of  Schools. 

No. 

Committee  of  District. 

Charlotte  Emerson   

District  No.  1. 
Charter  Street     .  .  . 

1 

Thaddeus  Pa^e 

Lucy  Ditson  

North  Street  

9 

John  Elliot. 

Susan  C.  Adams  
Sarah  Domett            .  . 

N.  Bennet  Street  .  . 
Ship  Street  

3 

4 

Henry  Fowle,  Jr. 
John  Fenno  Jr 

Harriet  13.  Luce    

Fleet  Street  

5 

Thomas  Fracker 

IMary  A.  Eaton 

Battery  Alley 

fi 

Charles  Lincoln  Jr 

Eliza  Barnes 

District  No.  2. 
Back  Street 

1 

Caleb  II  Snow 

Mary  A.  Wilder  
Ruth  Bonner 

Middle  Street  
Cross  Street 

2 

^ 

Ellis  B.  Green. 
Edward  Page 

Hannah  H.  Hansell 

Prince  Street  . 

<\ 

John  Farrie  Jr. 

Eliza  P.  Snow  

Ann  Street  

5 

Joseph  Lewis. 

Aphia  Turner  .  . 

North  Sauare  .  . 

6 

H.  Bates. 

7C 


ANNALS    OF    THE   1'IU.MARY    SCHOOLS. 


Instructors'  Names. 

Location  of  Schools. 

No. 

Committee  of  District. 

Elizabeth  Deshon     •  .        • 

District  No.  3. 
Scott's  Court       .    . 

1 

Reuben  Richards. 

S  ii'iih  Deshon         .  .        ... 

Hanover  Street  .  .  . 

'> 

George  Lane. 

Mary  M   Vallett 

Portland  Street 

3 

Charles  Hood 

S'ii"ih  Crranrnr 

Pitts  Court 

4 

Charles  Ewer. 

Maria  11.  Parmenter  
—  Welsh     

Leverett  Place  .... 
Lcverett  Street.  .  .  . 

5 
6 

George  Domett. 
Dr.  E.  Maynard. 

Mary  \   Calvary 

Brighton  Street 

7 

Benjamin  French 

Al'iria  Bates 

Sprin"r  Street 

S 

Peter  Mackintosh,  Jr. 

Elizabeth  Ford   . 

District  No.  4. 
Blossom  Street 

I 

\Villiam  J  Spooner. 

S  Russell  Street 

2 

Lewis  G.  Pray. 

Lydia  Johnson  

May  Street  . 

s 

Daniel  Henchman. 

Harriet  Gra^"1  

Cambridge  Street.  . 

4 

Charles  G.  Loring. 

Charlotte  Foster 

Belknap  Street 

5 

AVm  J   Spooner. 

Nuoiiu  JelTers    

Southac  Street 

6 

llobt.  Ward. 

^Irs  Newmarch       ... 

District  No.  5. 
Broad  Street  

1 

Dr.  Z.  B.  Adams. 

Miss  Newrnarc'h  

Broad  Street  

? 

Isaac  P.  Os<rood. 

Iklar^aret  Fox 

Purchase  Street 

3 

Isaac  Mansfield. 

Sarah  Blanchard 

Pearl  Street  . 

4 

Abiel  Chandler. 

Mrs  Bacon        .        .  .      .  . 

Sister  Street         .  .  . 

5 

J.  A.  Haven. 

Lucy  11.  Greene       

Newbury  Street  .  .  . 

6 

Wm.  T.  Andrews, 

Rebecca  Beaman    

District  No.  6. 
Nassau  Street  

1 

George  Ticknor. 

Sarah  Mackintosh 

Elliot  Street 

2 

Samuel  Greele. 

Ann  Hoot1 

Pleasant  Street 

S 

Benj.  A.  Gould. 

Mary  A    Thaxter              .  . 

Hainsford  Street.  .  . 

4 

Samuel  Davis. 

S.  Siders  &  Mrs.  Caxneau  . 
Mrs  Wakefield 

South  Street  Court. 
Sea  Street 

5 
G 

Dr.  Enoch  Hale,  Jr. 
Wm.  H.  Prescott. 

IMaria  Ha^ar                   . 

District  No.  7. 
\Varrcn  Street        . 

1 

Gerry  Fairbanks. 

Mary  A  Bell  

Orange  Street  .    .  . 

9 

Samuel  Bradlee. 

Elizabeth  Groves  

Washington  Street. 

3 

Benj.  Stevens. 

Catharine  Thaycr 

South  Boston  . 

Rev  Lemuel  Capen. 

Charlotte  Cole.. 

South  Boston  . 

5 

Rev.  Theodore  Edson. 

This  duty  having  been  accomplished,  it  was  then 
"  Voted,  That  the  Committee,  assigned  to  each  district,  be 
requested  to  organize  themselves  by  the  choice  of  a 
Chairman  and  Secretary,  and  to  appoint  one  gentleman 
to  the  particular  care  of  each  school,  and  make  a  re- 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  77 

turn  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Standing  Committee  by 
the  12th  inst."  These  returns  were  duly  received,  the 
schools  being  assigned,  as  in  the  preceding  list,  and  the 
whole  embraced  in  a  report  carefully  prepared  by  the 
Chairman,  and  presented  to  the  Board  at  the  ensuing 
quarterly  meeting. 

The  new  organization  of  the  Primary  Board  was  at 
tended  with  increased  watchfulness  and  labor  on  the 
part  of  the  Standing  Committee ;  and  it  was  fortunate 
that  the  principal  care  and  responsibility  rested  upon 
those  so  eminently  qualified  for  the  duties.  Relying 
upon  the  confidence  reposed  in  them  by  the  Board,  — 
strict  in  their  construction  of  the  line  of  duty  required 
to  render  the  schools  prosperous,  —  conscientious  in 
the  faithful  discharge  of  their  trust,  —  their  reports  are 
characterized  by  a  fearless  independence  in  relation  to 
the  delinquency  of  members,  and  the  suggestions  of 
reform.  In  their  first  Semi-Annual  Eeport,  after  the 
reorganization,  made  at  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the 
Board  in  August,  the  neglect  in  one  of  the  districts  is 
severely  noticed.  After  giving  the  Statistics  of  the 
schools,  the  Report  states,  "  that  the  Committee  of  Dis 
trict  -  —  report  to  us '  that  they  have  appointed  a  com 
mittee  of  three  to  examine  each  school  once  a  quarter, 
in  addition  to  the  monthly  visits.'  This  is  gratifying 
information,  and  the  more  so  because  it  is  noted  on  the 

return  of  Miss that  the  Committee  have  not  visited 

her  school  during  the  quarter !  The  same  committee 
suggest  that,  'When  additional  blank  returns  are 
printed  for  the  instructors,  they  may  contain  other 
columns  to  include  such  facts  as  would  be  inquired  for 
by  the  Board,  and  thereby  save  considerable  labor  for 


78  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

the  District  Committees.'  We  hope  that  improvement 
will  soon  be  introduced  in  these  forms ;  but  the  idea 
of  saving  labor  to  the  Committee  cannot  be  encouraged. 
Unfortunately,  the  Committee  of  this  District  have 
saved  themselves  too  much  of  the  proper  labor  of  their 
office  ;  and,  from  the  imperfection  of  their  returns,  we 
are  obliged  to  confide  in  their  assurance,  ( that  the  in 
structors  have  continued  to  discharge  their  duty  with 
industry  and  zeal/  and  that  'the  schools  have  con 
tinued  to  improve  since  the  last  quarterly  returns.' 

'•'  It  is  with  regret  that  we  mark  the  deficiencies  of  their 
Report,  or  allude  to  some  of  its  errors,  except  for  im 
provement.  Under  the  column  of  'Times  of  Examina 
tion  '  is  written  '  sundry  times,'  but  we  have  no  results 
of  an  examination  in  any  one  of  the  six  schools  at 
either  of  the  '  sundry  times.'  We  usually  hope  to 
find  the  errors  of  the  instructor's  returns  corrected  in 
the  Committee's  Reports,  but  in  this  instance  we  have 
seen  the  reverse,  and  we  were  led  into  such  great 
mistakes  by  their  Report,  and  so  confused  was  our 
statement,  drawn  from  it,  that  we  were  obliged  to  re 
write  two  pages  to  make  it  intelligible." 

In  several  of  the  other  Districts,  just  praise  was 
awarded,  to  the  Committee  and  teachers,  for  the  man 
ner  in  which  their  several  duties  were  performed. 
We  find  also  in  this,  as  in  other  of  the  early  reports, 
a  commendable  conservatism  in  regard  to  the  forma 
tion  of  new  schools.  The  Committee  at  South  Boston 
having  petitioned  for  another  school,  the  Standing 
Committee  observe  :  "  The  two  South  Boston  schools 
have  only  51  and  53  pupils,  while  in  the  same  Dis 
trict  are  three  schools  on  this  side  of  the  bridge,  with 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMAKY    SCHOOLS.  79 

an  average  of  60 ;  the  Standing  Committee,  therefore, 
cannot  omit  to  express  their  decided  opinion,  that, 
as  the  largest  number  present  at  either  of  these  schools, 
on  any  of  the  nine  visits,  except  one,  was  48,  another 
school  cannot  be  more  wanted  in  this  district  than  in 
two  or  three  others ;  and  it  seems  to  them,  that  at 
present,  we  had  better  continue  with  our  forty-three 
schools,  which  is  one  more  than  our  appropriation 
of  funds  is  calculated  for,  and  make  no  increase  until 
the  ensuing  spring." 

At  this  time  the  total  number  of  pupils  belonging 
to  the  schools  was  2;294;  being  an  average  of  over 
53  to  each  school. 

In  the  same  report,  the  Standing  Committee  con 
gratulate  the  Board  that  "  the  City  Government  have 
granted  $10,500  for  the  support  of  this  establishment 
for  the  current  year,  besides  $500  to  enable  us  to 
make  some  small  additions  to  the  Instructor's  com 
pensation  ; "  and  they  suggest,  that,  "  perhaps  the 
best  division  of  this  additional  sum  will  be  to  give 
ten  dollars  to  each  instructor,  making  the  annual  sal 
ary  an  even  sum  of  $250." 

This  was  adopted,  and  also  a  recommendation  ot 
the  Committee,  that  "  the  vacation  shall  be  on  Wednes 
day  afternoon,  instead  of  Thursday,  which  will  divide 
the  week  more  equally."  In  consequence  of  the  non- 
concurrence  of  the  Grammar  Board,  this  recommenda 
tion  was  not  carried  into  effect  till  1829. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  Sep 
tember  9,  1823,  among  the  Rules  to  be  observed  at 
the  Semi-annual  Examination,  "The  number  (and 
names,  if  thought  best,)  of  all  '  truants/  were  to  be 
reported;"  "the  appearance  of  the  room  and  schol- 


80  ANNALS   OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

ars  as  to  cleanliness ; "  "  the  faithfulness  of  the  Com 
mittee."  The  capacity  of  the  teacher,  £c.,  &c.,  were 
also  to  be  noticed.  The  Examining  Reports  were 
made  at  the  October  meeting,  when  an  unfavorable 
report  of  the  African  Primary  School  No.  2  having 
been  made  by  Mr.  Williams,  the  subject  was  referred 
to  the  Secretary,  who  subsequently  reported  that  he 
"  had  visited  the  school,  and  found  25  children  pre 
sent,  and  from  conversation  with  the  local  Commit 
tee,  he  had  no  doubt  that  every  means  would  be 
used  to  restore  the  school  to  its  former  prosperity." 
A  note  was  also  received  from  the  local  Committee, 
"  explaining  the  circumstances  of  its  apparent  decline, 
and  that  the  number  had  now  increased  to  about 
35 ;  and  also,  that  he  had  endeavored  to  inform  the 
instructress  as  to  her  duty,  and  to  stimulate  the  schol 
ars  in  their  attendance  and  good  behavior." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  Octo 
ber  28th,  the  Chairman  (Mr.  SAVAGE,)  wras  directed 
to  "prepare  a  condensed  report,  according  to  his 
views,  and  offer  such  resolutions  as  the  state  of  the 
schools  require ;  and  as  the  report  of  each  District 
will  be  communicated  to  the  Committee  of  the  dis 
trict,  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  go  into  the  character 
of  each  school,  as  heretofore." 

In  conformity  with  these  instructions,  Mr.  Savage 
prepared  a  general  report  on  the  condition  of  the 
schools,  from  the  Examiner's  returns,  and  presented 
the  following  Resolutions,  which  were  adopted  by  the 
Board  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Chairman  or  Secretary  of  each  Dis 
trict  Committee  be  authorized  and  requested  to  call  on 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  81 

the  Secretary  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  this  Board, 
(Deacon  Grant,)  to  receive  the  several  reports  of  the  Semi- 
Annual  Examination  of  their  respective  schools,  and  keep 
the  same  not  exceeding  four  weeks. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  District  Committees  be  desired, 
as  early  as  convenient,  to  hold  meetings,  and  agree  on  some 
effectual  measures  for  the  immediate  supply  of  books  to 
the  children  in  their  several  schools,  and  for  correcting 
any  evils  that  may  appear  in  the  condition  of  the  schools 
or  the  instructors,  whether  suggested  by  the  Standing  Com 
mittee  or  not. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  District  Committees  be  desired, 
as  early  as  convenient,  to  adopt  forms  of  books,  ruled  and 
divided  into  all  the  heads  desirable  for  preserving,  by  the 
instructors,  a  record  of  absences,  tardiness,  visits,  and  state 
of  the  school  for  every  day. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  considered  the  duty  of  each  member 
of  the  several  District  Committees  to  examine  the  state  of 
each  school  in  his  district,  at  least  once  in  a  year,  besides 
his  special  devotion  to  the  school  assigned  to  him,  so  that 
at  their  monthly  meetings  the  character  of  each  school  may 
be  known  to  all. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Board  was  directed  to  com 
municate  to  the  Secretary  of  each  District  a  copy  of 
these  Kesolutions. 

From  this  report  we  also  learn  that  on  the  1st  of 
October,  1823,  there  were  belonging  to  the  schools 
1,125  girls,  and  1,223  boys,  being  a  total  of  2,348. 
Of  these,  330  were  over  seven  years  of  age.  The  number 
sent  to  the  Grammar  Schools  in  the  last  six  months, 
350,  and  the  number  qualified  for  admission,  100, 
making  the  whole  number  qualified,  450. 

11 


82  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

1824. 

MARCH  9.  The  Standing  Committee  proceeded  to 
make  the  usual  arrangements  for  the  Semi-annual 
Examination,  to  take  place  "between  the  15th  of 
March  and  1st  of  April,  in  fair  weather,  and  within 
the  usual  school  hours."  "The  Chairman  of  each 
District  to  be  notified,  and  the  Instructor  informed 
of  the  intended  examination,  one  day  previous  to 
the  visit,  that  all  proper  arrangements  may  be  made." 

The  results  of  this  examination  are  given  in  the 
Report  of  the  Standing  Committee,  which  was  pre 
pared  by  Messrs.  JAMES  SAVAGE  and  LEWIS  TAPPAN, 
and  presented  to  the  Board,  April  20.  The  interest 
ing  subjects  embraced  in  this  report,  and  the  correct 
view  it  affords  of  the  management  of  the  schools  at 
this  time,  are  wrorthy  of  record,  and  the  insertion  of 
the  entire  document. 

SEMI-ANNUAL    REPORT 

Of  the   Standing  Committee  to  the  Primary   School  Cammittce, 
April  20,  1824. 

Agreeably  to  the  arrangement  made  by  the  Standing 
Committee,  all  the  Primary  Schools  in  the  city  were  visited 
and  examined  by  the  members  of  the  Standing  Committee, 
aided  by  the  District  Committees,  between  the  15th  and 
31st  of  March  last,  as  follows: 

District  No.  1         7  schools,  Mr.  Moses  Williams. 
"26"         Mr.  Thomas  Wells. 
"38"         Mr.  Moses  Grant. 
«         4         6      "         Benjamin  Guild,  Esq. 
u        5         6      "         James  Savage,  Esq. 
«        6        6      "        Mr.  Lewis  Tappan. 
"75"         Rev.  B.  B.  Wisner. 
44  schools.     2,463  scholars. 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  83 

The  subjects  of  inquiry  were  the  following : 

1.  The   children   of  each  sex  present,  and  belonging,  of 
each   class. 

2.  The  number  sent  to  the    Grammar  Schools  during  the 
last  six  months,   and  the  number  now   qualified. 

3.  The    number    of    Truants,    and   the    effect,    of    former 
inquiries  upon  this  class  of  scholars. 

4.  The  Instructor's   mode  of  keeping  a  record  of  tardi 
ness    and    absence    of    her   pupils,    and    of    the   visits    and 
examinations  by  the  District   Committees. 

5.  The  economy  of  the  School-rooms,  and  the  cleanliness 
of  the  children. 

6.  The  School  Hours. 

7.  Respecting  Sewing  and  Knitting. 

8.  Deficiency  of  Books. 

9.  The    discipline,   mode    of  instructing,    and   proficiency 
of  the  scholars. 

Each  member  of  the  Standing  Committee  made  a  written 
Report  of  all  the  subjects  of  inquiry,  which  will  be  delivered 
to  the  District  Committees,  and  thus  save  the  necessity  of  a 
voluminous  report  by  the  Standing  Committee.  They,  how 
ever,  recommend  to  the  respective  District  Committees  to 
circulate  these  reports  among  the  members  of  their  Boards 
respectively,  and  take  such  measures  in  relation  to  the 
schools  under  their  charge,  as  may  appear  necessary. 

The  number  of  pupils  present  in  all  the  schools  was 
2,171;  1,054  boys,  and  1,017  girls.  The  number  absent 
was  290;  122  boys,  and  168  girls. 

The  grand  total  belonging  to  the  schools  was  2,463; 
1,278  boys,  and  1,185  girls.  The  increase  since  the  last 
semi-annual  examination,  being  the  average  number  present 
in  the  schools,  was  49^| ;  and  the  average  number  belonging 
was  56.  One  new  school  was  established  in  District  No. 
1  the  last  six  months,  and  one  in  District  No.  7,  since  our 
examination,  while  making  this  report.  No  changes  have 


84  ANNALS   OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

been   made  in  the  Instructors  during  that  period.      A  new 
school  was  found  to  be  wanted  in  District  No.   6. 

The  numbers  present  at  the  examination  amounted  to 
above  88  per  cent,  of  the  whole  number  belonging,  which 
is  unusually  large,  and  highly  gratifying.  It  is  to  be  attrib 
uted  to  the  greater  attention  of  the  District  Committees, 
the  vigilance  of  the  Instructors,  and  it  is  hoped,  to  a  better 
appreciation  by  the  parents  of  the  benefits  derived  from 
these  seminaries. 

The  number  sent  to  the  Grammar  Schools  during  the  last 
six  months  was  76 ;  all  boys,  of  course,  as  the  ancient  and 
unnecessary  custom  of  prohibiting  girls  from  attending  Gram 
mar  Schools  in  the  winter  season  has  not  been  abolished. 
It  is  a  subject  of  congratulation,  however,  that  the  autumn 
term  is  prolonged,  and  the  girls  may  now  attend  until 
December.  When  it  is  considered  that  the  same  expenses 
are  incurred  by  the  city,  in  winter  as  in  summer,  in  the 
number  of  masters  and  ushers,  that  the  custom  of  girls 
attending  private  schools  throughout  the  year,  is  very  gen 
eral  amongst  us;  and  that  the  sentiment  of  the  advantages 
of  education  to  females  is  now  very  prevalent,  it  is  to  be 
hoped  and  confidently  expected  that  a  prohibition  of  our 
predecessors  whose  notions  in  regard  to  education  and  the 
claims  of  the  other  sex  were  less  enlightened  than  those 
prevailing  at  the  present  day  will  be  abolished.  About  270 
were  found  qualified. 

The  members  of  the  Select  Committee  have  in  their 
reports  expressed  their  opinions  in  regard  to  the  numbers 
qualified  agreeably  to  the  Rules  for  admission  into  the 
Grammar  Schools. 

It  is  respectfully  urged  upon  the  District  Committees  to 
see  that  those  who  are  recommended  for  admission  into  the 
Grammar  Schools  are  thorough  in  the  acquisitions  required 
by  the  Rules,  to  the  end  that  the  reputation  of  the  Primary 
Schools  may  be  preserved,  and  a  laudable  impulse  imparted 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  85 

to  the  Grammar  Schools  in  keeping  in  advance  of  those  who 
enter  from  lower  seminaries. 

It  is  probably  known  to  many  members  of  the  District 
Committee,  that  children  must  now  apply  for  admission  into 
the  Grammar  School  on  the  first  Monday  in  the  month,  and 
that  they  cannot  be  received  on  any  other  day. 

Truanting  has  diminished  in  these  schools,  and  the  admo 
nitions  given  to  truants  have  had  a  happy  tendency.  The 
morals  of  the  pupils,  so  far  as  the  Select  Committee  could 
ascertain,  are  as  correct  as  could  be  expected,  and  illustrate 
the  benign  effects  of  good  discipline,  of  intellectual  and 
religious  instruction,  imparted  by  the  lessons  taught  in  these 
schools. 

The  Journals  of  the  schools,  though  improved,  are  far  from 
being  uniform  or  perfect.  Dr.  Hale,  of  the  Committee  for 
District  No.  6,  has  devised  a  plan,  so  excellent,  that  the 
Standing  Committee  recommend  it  as  a  form  for  all  the 
schools.  It  is  a  folio  book,  calculated  for  recording  the 
names  of  all  the  scholars  on  one  page,  so  as  to  give  at  one 
view  the  name,  date  of  entrance,  age,  parent's  name,  rewards, 
tardiness  and  absence.  A  Diary  is  also  kept,  in  the  same 
book,  giving  the  day  of  the  month,  day  of  the  week,  section 
of  day,  state  of  the  weather,  number  present,  number  absent, 
and  remarks.  It  occasions  but  little  trouble  to  the  In 
structor  to  keep  such  a  book ;  it,  in  fact,  saves  her  time,  and 
prevents  perplexity  in  giving  a  verbal  account  of  her  school 
to  the  Visiting  Committees,  and  written  accounts  on  the 
quarterly  returns ;  it  is  of  great  use  to  the  Committees,  in 
asmuch  as  they  can,  on  inspecting  it,  ascertain  the  attend 
ance  of  each  half  day,  between  their  examinations;  and  it 
furthermore  serves  to  record  the  visits  and  examinations  of 
the  District  Committee. 

The  only  part  of  the  plan  about  which  a  difference  of 
opinion  might  exist,  is  the  columns  for  best  and  poorest 
scholars  each  half  day.  So  many  circumstances  are  to  be 


86          ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS. 

taken  into  consideration,  in  deciding  these  facts,  such  as 
natural  abilities,  industry,  proficiency,  behavior,  &c.,  that 
an  Instructor  would  be  perplexed  to  decide  every  day  out 
of  50  pupils. 

It  affords  great  pleasure  to  the  Standing  Committee  to 
state,  that  the  effects  of  new  districting  the  city,  new  organ 
izing  the  Committees,  introducing  more  system  into  the 
superintendence,  supplying  the  Instructors  with  Walker's 
Dictionary  and  the  Pronouncing  Testament,  have  been  very 
important  and  encouraging.  The  schools  were  never  so 
regularly  and  faithfully  examined  as  they  have  been  the  last 
six  months.  A  conscientious  spirit  seems  to  have  pervaded 
every  Board,  and  the  members  have  given  evidence  that  they 
will  not  hold  offices  without  discharging  the  duties  of  them, 
nor  be  unfaithful  to  the  responsible  and  important  interests 
committed  to  their  charge.  The  Instructors,  with  some 
exceptions,  have  better  qualified  themselves  to  be  good  teach 
ers,  their  pronunciation  is  improved  and  more  uniform,  and 
the  discipline  and  instruction  of  their  pupils  more  judicious 
and  thorough. 

There  appears  to  be  a  deficiency  of  books,  especially  in 
the  Third  and  Fourth  classes,  in  many  of  the  schools.  The 
Standing  Committee  attribute  it,  to  a  considerable  extent,  to 
the  expectation  of  a  new  Spelling  Book,  to  supersede  the 
Child's  Companion  and  Instructor.  They  have  the  gratifi 
cation  to  notice  the  publication  of  Mr.  Fowlc's  Rational 
Guide,  a  copy  of  which  has  been  sent  to  each  member  of 
this  Board.  If  it  has  appeared,  on  examination,  to  you  as 
it  has  to  the  Standing  Committee,  it  will  be  adopted  in  the 
Primary  Schools,  and  be  greeted  as  the  most  systematic, 
correct,  and  useful  Spelling  Book  that  has  been  published 
in  this  country. 

An  accurate  and  uniform  edition  of  the  New  Testament 
is  much  wanted  in  these  schools.  The  editions  now  used 
are  so  numerous,  and  many  of  them  of  such  bad  paper,  so 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  87 

badly  printed,  so  various  in  punctuation,  that  much  perplex 
ity  is  occasioned  to  the  instructors,  and  to  the  pupils. 

It  may  be  questioned,  whether  it  is  useful  to  require  the 
Fourth  class  to  obtain  books.  To  such  small  children  books 
are  mere  playthings.  No  child  ought  to  be  entrusted  with 
a  book,  who  does  not  know  its  value,  and  feel  ambitious  of 
preserving  it  in  good  order.  The  habit  of  treating  books 
lightly  ought  not  to  be  formed.  Cards  are  cheaper  and 
equally  useful  for  such  children  as  books. 

Heretofore  the  school  hours  in  the  Primary  Schools  have 
not  been  uniform,  nor  the  half  holidays  universally  on  the 
same  days.  Some  schools  have  had  but  one  session  in  a 
day,  viz. :  from  nine  to  three  o'clock.  This  practice  has 
prevailed  also  in  some  private  seminaries  in  the  city;  but 
it  has  been  introduced  to  accommodate  the  hours  of  dining 
of  parents,  and  against  the  opinions  and  inclinations  of 
intelligent  and  humane  instructors. 

As  this  Board  are  the  guardians  of  the  physical  as  well 
as  intellectual  wants  of  the  children  under  our  superintend 
ence,  it  behoves  us  to  guard  scrupulously  against  injuring 
their  constitutions  by  allowing  instructors  to  seclude  them 
from  recreation  and  wholesome  air  for  too  long  a  period 
at  a  time.  Experience  teaches  that  such  a  practice  will 
be  detrimental  alike  to  body  and  mind;  and  it  is  believed 
a  great  and  irreparable  injury  will  be  done  to  these  pupils 
if  long  continued  sessions  are  for  any  reasons  permitted. 
It  would  be  well  also  if  the  half  holidays  were  alike,  and 
if  the  school  hours  could  be  the  same.  When  companions 
are  roaming  abroad  in  play,  it  naturally  produces  discontent 
in  those  who  are  at  schools.  These  subjects  are  necessarily 
committed  to  the  wise  discretion  of  the  District  Commit 
tees.  It  is  obvious  that  there  is  much  waste  of  time  in 
nearly  all  these  schools.  There  is  little  study,  and  not 
a  third  of  the  time  is  allotted  to  recitation  of  each  pupil. 
For  the  largest  part  of  the  day  the  school-room  is  more  a 


88  ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

place  of  confinement  than  of  study.  This  applies  particu 
larly  to  the  youngest  classes,  and  is  true,  with  various  de 
grees  of  exception,  to  all  the  schools.  It  becomes  then  a 
natural  inquiry,  whether  the  children  cannot  be  more  con 
stantly  occupied  without  injuring  them.  The  well  attested 
experience  in  the  schools  of  mutual  instruction  bears  evi 
dence  that  young  persons  of  the  tender  age  of  seven  years 
may  be  actively  employed  six  hours  a  day,  properly  divided, 
without  rendering  instruction  tiresome  or  hurtful;  on  the 
contrary,  no  scholars  receive  instruction,  or  apply  them 
selves  with  greater  pleasure  or  success.  Children  of  all 
ages  are  incessantly  employed  out  of  school,  without  fatigue 
or  disgust;  and  the  reason  is,  there  is  perpetual  variety  in 
their  amusements  and  occupations.  If  their  instructors 
and  Committees  will  take  a  hint  from  Nature,  they  will 
perceive  that  if  instruction  be  made  a  system  of  diversi 
fied  amusement,  and  the  discipline  is  maternal,  an  untiring 
interest  can  be  preserved  in  the  minds  of  the  pupils. 

The  usual  mode  of  teaching  the  Alplialct  appears  to  the 
Standing  Committee  to  be  inefficient  and  improper.  The 
first  step  in  the  path  of  knowledge  should  be  associated 
with  pleasurable  ideas,  and  made  as  interesting  as  possible; 
the  young  pupils  should  be  allured,  not  driven.  There  will 
ever  be  truanting,  tardiness,  and  inattention  when  in  school, 
where  instruction  is  accompanied  by  frowns,  scolding  and 
frequent  chastisement. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  observe  that  the  ancient  mode 
of  teaching  ABC,  which  is  the  prevailing  mode  at  present 
in  most  of  the  Primary  Schools,  is  anything  but  alluring 
or  pleasant  to  the  pupils.  Some  improvements  have  been 
introduced;  in  the  alphabet  wheel,  alphabet  sheet,  and  sand 
forms,  wherever  sufficiently  tried,  these  experiments  have 
succeeded  admirably  well.  They  interest  and  improve 
the  learners  better  than  any  other  mode  known  to  tho 
Standing  Committee.  Besides,  they  do  not  engross  the 


ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS.          89 

time  of  the  instructor  so  much  as  the  ancient  system.  The 
excellent  mode  of  teaching  the  Alphabet  by  Mrs.  Hope  and 
Mrs.  Thaxter,  of  District  No.  6,  may  be  recommended  to 
the  Board  as  worthy  of  adoption  in  all  the  schools.  The 
children  form  a  semi-circle  near  the  wheel ;  at  the  foot  of 
it  is  placed  the  large  printed  Alphabet,  and  affixed  to  the 
shaft  of  the  wheel  is  the  small  printed  Alphabet,  taken 
from  a  spelling  book.  One  of  the  children  holds  the  board 
on  which  the  letters  are  painted,  and  another  turns  the 
wheel.  The  instructor  points  to  a  letter  on  the  printed 
sheet,  and  the  pupil  is  required  to  name  it,  and  afterwards 
to  find  the  same  letter  at  each  of  the  other  places,  naming 
the  large  and  small  letters.  By  this  operation,  the  same 
letter  is  seen  in  four  places,  and  the  same  letter,  in  two 
forms,  at  each  place. 

A  monitor  is  taken  from  the  first  class  to  superintend 
the  pupils  at  the  sand  form,  when  the  children  learn  to 
make  a  letter  at  the  same  time  they  learn  its  name.  It  is 
ascertained  that  months'  labor  is  saved  by  these  modes 
of  teaching  the  alphabet,  and  that  it  is  a  pleasant  exercise 
to  both  teacher  and  learner.  There  is  no  doubt  but  the 
introduction  of  other  parts  of  the  popular  and  excellent 
system  of  Mutual  Instruction  into  the  Primary  Schools, 
and  into  each  class,  would  be  attended  with  important 
benefits. 

Monitorial  instruction  relieves  the  instructor,  and  per 
mits  her  to  be  more  thorough  in  teaching  the  elder  schol 
ars. 

It  is  a  subject  of  considerable  complaint,  with  many 
'inhabitants,  who  take  great  interest  in  the  good  of  society, 
that  knitting  and  sewing  are  not  more  attended  to  in  the 
Primary  Schools.  It  is  declared  by  respectable  ladies, 
that  the  poor  are  sadly  deficient  in  the  arts  of  sewing  and 
knitting,  a  knowledge  of  which  is  so  necessary  to  the  com 
fort  of  their  families.  Frequently  this  subject  has  been 
12 


90  ANNALS   OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

alluded  to  in  the  Primary  Board.  In  many  schools  sew 
ing  is  attended  to  in  a  sufficient  degree  to  be  recorded  in 
the  quarterly  returns,  and  to  comply  with  the  Rules.  There 
are  difficulties  arising  from  the  want  of  materials  among 
the  poorest  people,  particularly  for  knitting,  and  an  indis 
position  on  their  part  to  aid  their  children  in  these  indus 
trious  habits.  Still,  a  skilful  use  of  the  needle,  and  a 
facility  in  knitting,  are  as  useful  to  the  poor  as  instruc 
tion  in  reading  or  spelling,  and  probably  more  so;  and  it 
seems  as  much  the  duty  of  society  to  afford  the  means 
of  instruction.  Another  obstacle  arises  from  the  large 
numbers  in  the  average  of  schools,  and  the  impossibility 
in  some,  for  one  instructor  to  teach  sewing  and  knitting, 
in  addition  to  a  faithful  attention  to  the  other  branches 
required.  But  it  is  thought  that  if  no  school  is  allowed 
to  exceed  fifty  in  number,  the  instructor  would  be  able  to 
form  a  sewing  and  knitting  class,  to  include  all  the  girls 
belonging  to  the  school,  who  are  of  sufficient  age ;  and 
that  two  afternoons  in  each  week,  at  least,  if  not  every 
afternoon,  should  be  exclusively  devoted  to  these  useful 
branches  of  female  education.  After  subtracting  so  con 
siderable  a  portion  from  the  time  allowed  to  girls,  a  rec 
ompense  might  be  made  to  them  for  the  advantage  the 
boys  would  have  over  the  girls  in  devoting  all  the  school 
hours  to  study,  in  procuring  the  abolition  of  the  custom 
of  girls  not  being  allowed  to  attend  the  Grammar  Schools 
during  the  winter  months;  a  custom  very  unnecessary  in 
this  city,  if  necessary  anywhere,  and  contrary  to  the  usage 
prevailing  in  the  higher  classes  of  society,  whose  children 
attend  private  schools  throughout  the  year,  without  dis 
tinction  of  sex. 

The  Ward  Vaccinating  Committees  recommended  to  the 
City  Council  to  prohibit  the  admission  into  the  Grammar 
Schools  of  all  children  who  have  not  had  the  kine  pock. 
That  body,  for  wise  reasons,  deemed  it  injudicious  thus  to 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  91 

visit  the  neglect  of  parents  upon  their  offspring;  but  the 
object  is  important,  and  may  probably  be  attained  by  another 
and  less  objectionable  way. 

If  the  District  Committees,  before  giving  tickets  of  ad 
mission  to  the  Grammar  Schools,  will  ascertain  whether 
the  scholar  has  been  vaccinated;  and  in  case  it  has  not 
been  done,  will  devote  a  little  friendly  aid  to  the  accom 
plishment  of  this  desirable  object,  the  wish  of  the  Ward 
Vaccinating  Committees  will,  in  a  great  measure,  be  attained, 
the  child  be  greatly  benefited,  and  the  community  protected. 

The  Standing  Committee  deem  it  to  be  their  imperious 
duty  to  notice,  in  this  Report,  the  case  of  those  children, 
of  both  sexes,  over  seven  years  of  age,  who  are  not  quali 
fied  for  admission  into  the  Grammar  Schools;  many  of 
them,  by  indulgence,  are  suffered  to  remain  in  the  Primary 
Schools.  A  few  are  permitted  to  enter  after  arriving  at 
the  age  of  seven,  and  a  considerable  number  are  debarred 
from  all  instruction,  except  at  Sunday  Schools.  It  will  be 
recollected  that  a  year  or  two  since  a  Lancasterian  school 
was  opened  on  Fort  Hill,  under  the  patronage  of  the  general 
School  Committee,  for  the  accommodation  of  this  descrip 
tion  of  youth.  It  succeeded  remarkably  well,  was  doing 
great  good  to  the  pupils  and  to  society,  when  suddenly  it 
was  discontinued  by  order  of  the  School  Committee,  on 
account  of  the  master,  Mr.  Fowle,  resigning  his  office  for 
the  purpose  of  commencing  a  private  school  on  the  same 
principles.  Another  gentleman,  well  qualified,  stood  ready 
to  succeed  the  first  master;  but  for  some  reason,  not  known 
to  the  Committee,  was  not  appointed,  and  the  scholars  were 
dispersed.  That  in  this  city  a  considerable  number  of  youth 
should  be  suffered  to  grow  up  destitute  of  the  advantages 
secured  to  the  children  generally,  and  be  abandoned  to  idle 
ness,  vagrancy,  ignorance,  and  crime,  reflects  no  honor  on  the 
citizens  or  our  institutions,  and  demands  prompt  attention. 

The  schools  are  in  better  condition  this  spring  than  at  any 


92  ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

previous  examination.  The  system  has  been  gradually  ad 
vancing  to  excellence  throughout  every  department  of  it,  and 
may  now  be  contemplated  with  satisfaction  and  pride.  The 
healthy  appearance  of  the  children,  their  general  neat  attire, 
their  happy  faces,  their  good  conduct  and  proficiency  in  study, 
afford  additional  proof  of  the  wisdom  that  established  these 
schools,  and  commend  them  to  the  continued  vigilant  and 
persevering  superintendence  of  the  committees,  and  the 
liberal  support  of  the  city  authorities. 

The  Standing  Committee  beg  leave  to  submit  several 
Resolutions,  embracing  several  topics  noticed  in  this  Report, 
which  are  offered  for  the  consideration  and  disposal  of  this 
Board :  — 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Chairman  of  every  District  be  re 
quested  to  prepare  a  diary  for  each  instructor  in  his  District, 
similar  to  that  in  Messrs.  Siders  and  Cazneau's  School,  Essex 
Street,  in   District  No.  6,  and   that   each   instructor  in  the 
Primary  Schools  be  required,  from  and  after  the  expiration 
of  the  present  quarter,  to  keep   the    records  of  her  school 
agreeably  to  said  plan,  with  the  omission  of  the  columns  for 
lest  and  poorest  scholars. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Dr.  Hale,  Dr.  Ware  and  Col.  Fairbanks 
be  a  committee  to  inquire  and  report  at  the  quarterly  meet 
ing   in  May  next,  on  the  expediency  of  having  new  Testa 
ments  in  a  uniform  edition,  gradually  introduced  for  all  the 
pupils  in  the  first  classes  in  the  Primary  Schools ;  and  also 
which   edition  may  most   conveniently  and  satisfactorily  be 
adopted. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  Chairmen  of  the  seven  Districts  be  a 
committee,  to  examine  into  the  most  approved  methods  of 
teaching  the  alphabet ;  that  they  be  authorized  to  adopt  a  uni 
form   system,    together    with   such    improvements    from  the 
mon itorial  system   as  they  shall  deem  proper;  and  that  they 
make  a  report  of  their  doings  at  the  next  quarterly  meeting. 

4.  Rcsolvcdj  That  the  Chairmen  of  the  District  Committees 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  93 

be  a  committee  to  prepare  suitable  reading  and  spelling  les 
sons  on  cards  for  the  use  of  the  fourth  classes  in  the  Primary 
Schools,  to  supersede  the  use  of  books,  and  to  cause  the  same 
to  be  introduced  into  all  the  schools. 

5.  Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  several  District 
Committees  to  ascertain  that  each  pupil,  before  receiving  a 
ticket    of  admission  into   a  grammar    school,  has  been  vac 
cinated;    and  if  said  pupil  has   not    had  the  kine   pock,  to 
befriend  said  pupil,  so  that  it  may  be  vaccinated. 

6.  Resolved,  That  Mr.  J.  Savage,  Dr.   Hale  and  Mr.  J.  R. 
Adan  be  a  committee  to  draw  a  respectful  memorial  to  the 
School   Committee  of  this  city,  praying   them  to  take  into 
consideration  the  case  of  the  youth  over  seven  years  of  age, 
and  not  qualified  for  the  Grammar  Schools,  and  to  provide 
for  them  instruction  on  the  Monitorial  System,  or  such  other 
as  they  may  consider  best  adapted  for  these  children. 

7.  Resolved,  That  henceforward  all  the  girls  in  the  Primary 
Schools,  who  have  arrived  at  the  age  of  six  years,  shall  de 
vote  the  afternoons  of  every  Tuesday  and  Friday  to  sewing 
or  knitting. 

This  Report  and  the  Resolutions  were  adopted  by  the 
Board,  and  the  first  change  was  made  in  the  originally 
selected  school  books  by  the  adoption  of  "Fowle's 
Rational  Guide  "  as  a  reading  book,  to  be  introduced 
into  the  Primary  Schools  on  and  after  the  1st  of  May. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board,  May  18th, 
Mr.  Savage,  in  behalf  of  the  Standing  Committee,  read 
a  memorial  to  the  City  Government  for  an  appropria 
tion  of  $11,200,  for  47  schools  at  $240  each,  which  was 
adopted,  and  the  Standing  Committee  directed  to 
present  the  same  to  the  City  Council,  who,  in  June, 
appropriated  the  required  amount. 

Mr.  Savage  having    resigned   as    Chairman   of  the 


94  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Standing  Committee  at  the  close  of  the  school  year  in 
June,  the  Committee  was  organized  August  10,  1824, 
by  the  choice  of  THOMAS  WELLS,  Esq.,  as  Chairman,  and 
MOSES  GRANT  as  Secretary.  The  members  elected  by 
the  Board  were  Rev.  B.  B.  Wisner,  Thomas  Wells,  Moses 
Grant,  Benjamin  Guild,  J.  P.  Osgood  and  William  T. 
Andrews. 

The  schools  for  colored  children  continued  to  be  a 
source  of  great  trouble  and  anxiety  to  the  Committee ; 
and  in  consequence  of  the  ill  success  of  the  teacher  of 
the  African  School  No.  2,  she  was  superseded  on  the 
1st  of  July  "  by  the  appointment  of  Mrs.  Catherine 
Paul,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Paul,  the  esteemed 
colored  clergyman,  who  immediately  entered  upon  the 
trust,  and  was  permitted  to  change  the  location  of  the 
school  from  Southac  to  George  Street,  her  place  of 
residence.  The  room  is  not  so  large  as  the  former, 
but  is  more  airy  and  central ;  and  the  advantage  to  be 
derived  from  its  being  under  the  roof  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Paul  determined  the  Committee  in  its  favor.  The 
change,  in  all  respects,  is  for  the  better.  The  numbers 
have  increased  from  40  to  60,  and  the  average  attend 
ance  from  30  to  50.  The  school  has  a  more  orderly 
and  cleanly  appearance ;  and  in  the  studies  and  man 
ners  of  the  children  there  is  much  improvement.  The 
influence  of  Mr.  Paul,  which  is  kindly  and  judiciously 
exercised  both  in  and  out  of  school,  is  of  great  service ; 
and,  judging  from  the  month  during  which  Mrs.  Paul 
has  had  charge  of  the  school,  the  Committee  believe 
that  the  result  will  satisfy  their  highest  expectations." 
The  success  of  Mrs.  Paul  was  very  good,  and  the  Com 
mittee  induced  her  to  continue  the  charge  of  the  school 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  95 

for  several  years,  and  then  she  was  succeeded  by  her 
daughter,  Miss  Susan  Paul,  under  whose  care  the  school 
remained  until  1838. 

It  will  be  recollected,  that  in  July,  1820,  at  the  solici 
tation  of  the  Primary  Board,  a  school  for  Mutual  In 
struction,  for  children  between  seven  and  fourteen  years 
of  age,  was  established  in  the  Boylston  School  House. 
This  school  had  been  quite  successful,  but  was  insuf 
ficient  to  accommodate  the  increase  of  children  whose 
education  had  been  neglected,  and  those  who  were  con 
tinually  arriving  from  other  countries ;  and  in  Novem 
ber,  1824,  a  Special  Committee  of  the  Primary  Board 
was  appointed  to  apply  to  the  School  Committee, 
respecting  further  provision,  for  the  instruction  of  such 
children  who  were  too  old  for  the  Primary,  and  were 
unqualified  for  the  Grammar  Schools.  This  petition 
was  referred  by  the  Grammar  School  Board  to  a  sub 
committee,  in  whose  hands  the  subject  remained  un 
attended  to  until  February,  1826,  when  they  made  a 
report,  recommending  an  application  to  the  City  Coun 
cil  for  means  to  establish  one  or  more  schools  for  pupils 
of  the  above  description,  and  the  application  was  made 
accordingly ;  but  the  City  Government  declined  doing 
anything  in  regard  to  the  matter. 

1825. 

From  the  Eeport  of  the  Semi-Annual  visitation  of 
the  Standing  Committee,  made  by  the  Chairman,  Mr. 
THOMAS  WELLS,  in  March,  1825,  we  find  that  the  num 
ber  of  schools  had  been  increased  to  48,  and  the  whole 
number  of  pupils  was  2,686 ;  and  it  is  a  singular  cir- 


96          ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS. 

cumstance  that,  at  this  time,  there  was  an  equal  num 
ber  of  each  sex  in  the  schools,  viz.,  1,343  girls  and 
1,343  boys. 

Mr.  Wells  was  a  member  of  the  Standing  Committee 
from  1820  to  1830,  and  was  a  worthy  successor  to  Mr. 
Savage  as  Chairman  of  that  body.  His  reports  to  the 
Board  are  characterized  by  a  careful,  but  somewhat  elab 
orate,  exposition  of  the  state  of  the  schools,  —  mature 
suggestions  in  regard  to  improvements,  —  and  a  faithful 
adherence  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Board. 
As  an  example  of  his  earnestness  in  regard  to  the 
duties  of  the  Committee,  we  present  an  eloquent  appeal 
to  them,  in  the  concluding  portion  of  the  report  from 
which  the  preceding  statistics  are  obtained  ;  the  interest 
in  which  will  undoubtedly  be  increased,  from  the  appre 
ciating  record  of  the  valuable  services  of  one  of  his 
associate  members,  who  was  well  known  and  beloved  as 
a  Christian  pastor,  and  whose  memory  is  still  endeared 
to  many  now  among  us: — 

By  the  appointment  of  Providence,  we  have  been  placed  in 
a  situation  in  which  we  are  enabled  to  act  an  influential  part. 
We  have  it  in  our  power  to  produce  some  effect  upon  the 
character  and  hopes  of  society.  By  the  wisdom  and  prudence 
of  our  ancestors,  we  are  in  the  possession  of  the  institutions 
of  civil  and  religious  liberty.  To  these  institutions  we  are 
indebted  for  all  that  we  have.  They  rest  on  the  broad  basis 
of  universal  intelligence.  To  preserve  this  basis  firm  and 
unbroken  is  a  duty  that,  in  some  degree,  has  devolved  upon 
us.  Let  it  not  be  the  reproach  of  this  generation,  that  they 
were  so  much  occupied  in  the  enjoyment  of  blessings  obtained 
by  the  labors  and  the  sacrifices  of  their  ancestors,  that  they 
could  not  find  lime  to  preserve  them  for  the  benefit  of  their 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  97 

children.  Let  it  not  be  the  reproach  of  any  individual  at  this 
Board  that  he  lingered  at  the  very  threshold  of  duty,  and 
gave  an  unwilling  aid  to  the  maintenance  of  these  institutions, 
which  are  at  once  the  glory  and  happiness  of  our  land. 

We  do  not  make  these  remarks  under  an  impression  that 
they  are  particularly  called  for  at  this  time.  On  the  con 
trary,  we  have  been  much  gratified  with  the  attention  which 
has  generally  been  paid  to  the  schools  by  the  district  com 
mittees  j  and  were  it  not  for  an  invidious  distinction  which  it 
does  not  belong  to  us  to  make,  we  could  point  to  individuals 
whose  zeal  and  fidelity  have  excited  within  us  feelings  of 
admiration  and  gratitude. 

In  making  this  remark,  we  are  forcibly  reminded  of  the 
loss  that  our  own  number  is  about  to  sustain  in  one  who  has 
probably  contributed  as  much  as  any  individual  towards  ad 
vancing  the  schools  to  their  present  prosperous  condition. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  WISNER,  having  been  elected  to  the  Board  of 
the  General  School  Committee,  will  necessarily  relinquish  the 
connection  that  he  has  long  held  with  us.  We  should  feel 
deep  regret  for  this  loss,  were  it  not  attended  with  the  knowl 
edge  that  his  labors  will  still  be  continued  in  another  part  of 
the  great  vineyard,  in  which  we  are  employed,  and  where  his 
experience,  —  his  well-tried  fidelity  and  discretion,  —  will  be 
particularly  useful. 

It  appears  from  this  report,  that,  at  this  period,  it  was 
not  customary  for  members  of  the  Primary  School  Com 
mittee  to  hold  any  other  office  in  the  City  Government. 
The  resignation  of  Mr.  Savage  was  caused  by  his  elec 
tion  to  the  Grammar  Board  ;  and  from  Mr.  Wells's  allu 
sion  to  Mr.  Wisner,  it  is  evident  that  the  members  of 
the  Primary  Board  were  considered  City  officers,  and 
as  such,  the  holding  of  any  other  office  was  regarded 
as  incomnatible  with  the  City  Charter. 

13 


98  ANNALS    OF  TIIE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

We  notice  another  peculiarity  in  the  early  history 
of  the  Board,  and  which  continued  as  late  as  1838,  that 
on  the  election  of  any  one  as  a  member  of  the  Stand 
ing  Committee,  it  was  usual  for  him  to  be  relieved  from 
the  supervision  of  any  particular  school ;  and,  in  most 
cases,  another  was  elected  to  his  school  by  the  Board. 
There  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  rule  of  the 
Board  requiring  this,  but  it  would  seem  to  have  been 
at  the  option  of  the  individual,  after  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Standing  Committee,  whether  he  would  continue  to 
act  as  a  local  committee  or  not.  The  same  privilege 
appears  to  have  been  extended  to  the  President  and 
Secretary  of  the  Board.  From  1830,  this  custom  began 
to  be  discontinued,  and  in  1839,  all  the  officers,  includ 
ing  the  Standing  Committee,  had  special  charge  of 
particular  schools. 

At  the  Semi- Annual  examination  in  October,  1825, 
the  number  of  schools  had  been  increased  to  50,  and 
the  number  of  scholars  to  2,716.  In  making  this  ex 
amination,  the  committees  were  required  to  report  "  the 
number  of  truants  and  profane  scholars,  and  also  the 
mode  of  punishment  practised  by  the  instructors."  In 
regard  to  the  latter,  the  Standing  Committee,  in  their 
report,  judiciously  observe,  u  In  our  investigation  as  to 
the  nature  and  degree  of  punishment  practised  in  the 
schools,  we  were  under  the  impression  that  too  much 
variety  existed  in  these  respects,  and  that  much  of  the 
inequality  in  the  character  of  the  schools  was  attribu 
table  to  this.  It  is  obvious  that  but  little  advance  in 
education  can  be  expected  unless  order  is  preserved, 
and  that  order  can  only  be  the  effect  of  judicious  dis 
cipline.  We  have  not  found  so  great  diversity  in  the 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS  99 

manner  as  we  expected,  but  much  more  in  the  degree. 
It  appears  certain  that,  in  most  of  the  schools,  order  has 
not  been  preserved  without  some  exercise  of  timely 
severity ;  yet  it  is  equally  certain  that  it  has  not  been 
improved  by  the  system  of  unremitting  and  indiscrimi 
nate  rigor  as  practised  in  several  of  them;  and  we 
believe  that  much  more  depends  upon  good  judgment, 
and  decision  in  the  application,  than  in  the  severity  of 
the  punishment.  We  have  found  some  instructors  con 
trolling  their  schools  without  apparent  effort,  while 
others  were  perpetually  occupied  in  such  violent  en 
deavors  to  produce  order,  as  to  utterly  fail  in  their 
object.  This  is  a  subject  of  primary  importance,  and 
is  commended  to  the  attention  of  every  member  of  the 
Board." 

On  the  morning  of  Thursday,  November  10,  1825, 
a  large  and  destructive  fire  occurred  in  Court  street, 
by  which  the  office  of  JAMES  SAVAGE,  Esq.,  was  de 
stroyed.  From  the  long  connection  of  Mr.  Savage 
with  the  Board  as  Secretary,  and  as  Chairman  of  the 
Standing  Committee,  the  meetings  of  which  had  been 
usually  held  at  his  office,  most  of  the  records,  reports 
and  papers  of  the  Committee,  together  with  many 
valuable  documents  relating  to  the  early  history  of 
the  Primary  Schools,  were  consumed.  In  consequence 
of  this  severe  loss,  a  special  meeting  of  the  Standing 
Committee  was  held  on  Friday  evening,  November  18, 
at  the  house  of  MOSES  GRANT,  Esq.,  the  Secretary,  at 
which  it  was  Voted,  To  call  a  meeting  of  the  whole 
Board  in  reference  to  the  subject.  The  meeting  of 
the  Board  was  held  in  conformity  with  this  vote, 
and  "Messrs.  Blanchard,  Wells,  Pray,  and  W.  T. 


100  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

Andrews,  the  Secretary  of  the  Board,  were  appointed 
a  Committee  to  consider  the  subject,  and  to  provide 
new  blanks  in  the  place  of  those  consumed  in  the 
late  fire  in  Court  street." 

With  this  record  closes  one  epoch  in  the  history 
of  the  Primary  Schools ;  and  if  it  should  be  thought 
that  we  have  devoted  more  time  and  space  to  the 
details  than  were  necessary,  we  would  only  refer  to 
the  fact,  that  of  this  period,  the  most  important  and 
interesting  in  our  history,  no  complete  record  exists ; 
and  as  the  original  members  of  the  Board  are  "  pass 
ing  away,"  our  means  of  information  will  become 
more  and  more  limited,  and  the  loose  material  from 
which  we  have  gleaned,  may  soon  be  scattered,  if  not 
destroyed. 

1826. 

On  the  13th  of  January  a  communication  was  re 
ceived  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Grammar  School 
Committee,  notifying  the  Primary  Board  of  the^  gen 
tlemen  who  had  been  appointed  to  have  charge  of 
the  Primary  Schools  for  the  ensuing  year. 

On  the  IGth  of  January,  the  quarterly  meeting  was 
held,  and  the  following  officers  elected  : 

Chairman  —  MOSES  GRANT. 

Secretary  —  WILLIAM  T.  ANDREWS. 

Standing  Committee  —  Thomas  Wells,  Chairman.  Moses 
Grant,  Secretary.  J.  P.  Osgood,  Daniel  Noyes,  Wm.  J. 
Spooner,  J.  P  Blanchard,  Enoch  Hale. 

A  vote  was  passed  to  divide  District  No.  7,  so  as 
to  form  a  new  District  of  the  schools  at  South  Bos 
ton,  to  be  called  District  No.  8;  and  Deacon  WM. 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   8€b<n]iY 


BROWN  was  added  to  the  Standing  Cbitiinittee  to  fill 
the  place  made  necessary  by  the  creation  of  a  new 
District. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  May 
16th,  a  letter  was  read  from  Rev.  Mr.  PIERPONT,  Secre 
tary  of  the  Grammar  School  Committee,  on  the  sub 
ject  "  of  giving  children  in  the  Primary  Schools,  who 
are  most  advanced,  some  instruction  in  the  elements 
of  Arithmetic,  previous  and  preparatory  to  their  ad 
mission  to  the  Public  Grammar  Schools,"  and  stating 
that  "  Messrs.  Pierpont,  Blaisdell  and  Eaton  were 
appointed  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the  Primary 
School  Committee  on  the  subject"  Messrs.  Wells, 
Blanchard  and  Grant  were  appointed  to  confer  with 
the  above-named  gentlemen,  and  upon  their  rej  c^t 
the  subject  was  presented  to  the  Board  at  the  quarterly 
meeting  in  July,  who  placed  the  whole  matter,  together 
with  the  selection  of  a  text-book,  in  the  hands  of  a 
Committee  to  report  at  the  next  quarterly  meeting. 
In  October,  the  Committee  accordingly  reported  in 
favor  of  the  measure,  and  recommended  as  a  book 
to  commence  with,  "Primary  Lessons  in  Arithmetic, 
by  Frederic  Emerson;"  which  report  and  recommend 
ation  were  adopted,  and  the  several  District  Committees 
were  directed  to  have  the  same  introduced  into  the 
first  classes  of  their  schools.  A  Resolution  was  also 
adopted,  prohibiting  the  teachers  from  allowing  the 
distribution  of  any  tracts  or  other  publications  in 
their  schools,  without  the  permission  of  the  District 
Committee. 

In  conformity  with  a  new  law  of  the  Legislature, 
requiring  official  returns  of  all  the  children  in  the 


102  A2*tfALfl   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

schools,  between  4 'and  1C  years  of  age,  the  follow 
ing  returns   of  the   Primary  Schools   were   made    by 
the  Standing  Committee  to  the  City  Government : 
Whole  number  of  Schools,  divided  into  8  Districts,      51 
«  «      children  belonging,          .         .  2,805 

«  "     girls  under  7  years  of  age,      .  1,229 

«  "         "    over  7  years  of  age,         .      14G 

"  "     boys  under  7  years  of  age,      .  1,310 

«  "        "     over  7  years  of  age,        .      120 

In  addition  to  this  number,  G47  pupils  had  been 
qualified  for,  and  entered,  the  Grammar  Schools  during 
the  year. 

1827. 

JANUARY  1C.  The  Committee  having  been  appointed 
by  the  Grammar  Board,  proceeded  to  organize  them 
selves  by  the  choice  of 

Chairman  —  MOSES  GRANT. 

Secretary  —  WILLIAM  T.  ANDREWS. 

Standing  Committee  —  Thomas  Wells,  Chairman.  Moses 
Grant,  Secretary.  J.  P.  Spooner,  J.  P.  Blanchard,  Lemuel 
Capen,  Benj.  B.  Wisner,  Joseph  Tuckerman,  William 
Russell. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Dr.  Tuckerman,  a  Committee  of 
three  was  appointed  to  inquire  whether  by  law  "  chil 
dren  of  any  and  what  age  are  excluded  from  the  Pub 
lic  Schools  of  this  city  ;  and  if  so,  whether  any  meas 
ures  can  be  adopted  for  their  instruction."  On  the 
17th  of  April,  Dr.  TUCKERMAN,  Chairman  of  the  Com 
mittee,  made  an  interesting  report,  accompanied  by 
a  Resolution,  requesting  the  Grammar  School  Commit- 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  103 

tee  to  reconsider  the  subject,  of  "  providing  means  of 
instruction  for  those  children  who  are  excluded  from 
the  existing  schools."  The  report  was  accepted,  and 
the  same  Committee  were  instructed  to  represent  the 
subject  to  the  General  School  Committee,  agreeably 
to  the  report  and  resolution. 

The  subject  of  Sewing  having  been  again  urged 
upon  the  attention  of  the  Board,  in  the  report  of  the 
Standing  Committee,  a  vote  was  passed  that  the  Com 
mittees  of  the  several  Districts  be  requested,  forthwith, 
to  take  measures  for  the  establishment  in  their  District 
of  one  or  more  schools  for  instruction  in  Sewing,  on 
Thursday  and  Saturday  afternoons,  and  that  the  Secre 
tary  be  directed  to  send  a  copy  of  this  vote  to  the 
Chairman  or  Secretary  of  each  District.  In  compli 
ance  with  this  vote,  a  number  of  schools  for  Sewing 
were  formed  in  the  several  Districts,  with  good  effect ; 
particularly  was  this  the  case  in  the  Broad  street  Dis 
trict  No.  5,  in  which  the  attendance  of  the  children 
was  very  regular,  and  their  improvement  was  such 
as  to  gratify  the  desires  of  the  Committee. 

In  October,  1826,  the  Standing  Committee  suggested 
to  the  Board,  the  expediency  of  introducing  something 
of  the  plan  of  Monitorial  Instruction  into  the  Primary 
Schools,  and  their  suggestions  were  referred  to  a  Sub- 
Committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Blanchard,  Pray  and 
Spooner,  to  consider  and  report ;  this  Committee,  on 
the  17th  April,  1827,  presented  a  detailed  report  and 
plan,  which  was  printed  and  referred  to  a  subsequent 
meeting,  May  10th,  when  the  plan  recommended  by 
them  was  again  referred  to  a  Committee  of  twelve, 
who  were  directed  to  make  such  experiments  of  the 


10-4        ANNALS  OF  THE  PRLMARY  SCHOOLS. 

plan  as  they  should  deem  expedient.  Accordingly, 
this  Committee  proceeded  to  introduce  the  plan  of 
Mutual  Instruction  into  one  school  in  each  District, 
and  the  result  was  so  favorable,  that  in  their  report  pre 
sented  to  the  Board  on  the  22d  of  January,  1828,  they 
recommended  a  continuance  of  the  experiment  in  the 
schools  which  had  already  been  placed  under  that  sys 
tem,  and  the  authorizing  of  the  several  District  Com 
mittees  to  introduce  it  as  they  should  deem  best,  into 
their  schools.  The  Board  accepted  the  report,  and 
authorized  the  District  Committees,  in  conformity  with 
the  recommendation. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1827,  the  public  mind 
was  considerably  excited  in  regard  to  the  Small  Pox ; 
and  at  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  School  Committee, 
held  at  the  office  of  the  Mayor,  on  Tuesday,  November 
13,  1827.  the  following  Preamble  and  Order  was  passed: 

WHEREAS,  great  apprehensions  were  entertained,  in  the 
early  part  of  this  year,  of  the  spreading  of  contagion  by 
Small  Pox,  and  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  and 
others  with  which  the  commercial  intercourse  of  our  citizens 
is  very  frequent,  are  often  subject  to  that  evil,  and  whereas 
the  best  security  against  contagion  of  that  loathsome  and 
deadly  disease  is  furnished  by  a  diffusion  of  the  mild  remedy 
of  cow  pock  through  the  community,  and  the  City  Govern 
ment  have  adopted  measures  for  the  universal  extension 
of  this  benefit,  without  expense,  to  all  such  persons  as  would 
feel  an  inconvenience  in  paying  the  usual  fees,  and  the  remedy 
may  most  satisfactorily  be  obtained  by  children ; 

It  is  therefore  Ordered  by  the  School  Committee,  that  after 
March  next  the  instructors  of  all  the  Public  Schools  in  this 
city  be  directed  to  ascertain  by  probable  evidence  that  every 


ANNALS   OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  105 

child,  who  is  offered  for  admission  at  any  of  said  schools, 
shall  have  been  secured  from  contagion  of  the  Small  Pox ; 
and  no  child,  not  so  secured,  shall  be  received  at  any  such 
school,  unless  on  return  from  the  master  the  School  Com 
mittee  shall  order  such  child  to  be  received. 

This  action  of  the  Grammar  Board  was  communicated 
by  the  following  courteous  letter  from  the  Secretary  : 

MOSES  GRANT,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  Committee  for  Primary  Schools: 
DEAR  SIR,  —  In  communicating  the  within  order  of  the 
School  Committee  to  you,  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
for  providing  instruction  for  children  between  four  and 
seven  years  of  age,  I  feel  great  pleasure,  because  the  efficacy 
of  the  measures  adopted  will  be  so  materially  dependent 
on  the  faithful  services  of  your  Board.  These  services  never 
fail.  It  will  be  most  easy,  before  granting  any  certificate 
for  admission  to  a  Primary  School,  for  the  member  of  the 
Committee  to  ascertain  that  the  child,  in  whose  favor  the 
desire  is  made,  has  been  secured  by  the  Cow  Pock ;  or  if 
not,  to  obtain  a  certificate  from  any  member  of  the  City 
Council,  or  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  to  secure  the  services, 
gratuitously,  of  any  physician,  if  the  parent  or  guardian 
need  such  favor. 

The  devastation  which  this  last  year  has  been  extended 
by  the  Small  Pox  at  Halifax,  and  the  loss  of  above  one  hun 
dred  a  year,  for  the  last  two  years,  in  each  of  the  cities  of 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  and  the  occasional  advances 
in  various  directions  in  smaller  towns,  not  to  mention  our 
own  loss  of  two  or  three,  must  put  us  on  our  guard. 

With  highest  regard,  yours, 
Boston,  3d  Dec.,  1827.  JAMES  SAVAGE. 

The  foregoing  communications,  having  been  pre 
sented  at  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Primary  School 
Committee,  Jan.  5,  1827,  it  was  voted,  that, 

14 


10G  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

Whereas,  a  communication  has  been  received  by  this  Board 
of  an  order  of  the  General  School  Committee  relating  to  the 
important  subject  of  requiring  the  protection  of  the  cow 
pock  inoculation  for  the  children  in  the  schools  under  our 
care,  and  we  are  deeply  conscious  of  the  importance  of  such 
a  measure,  and  anxious  to  give  our  cooperation  towards 
carrying  it  into  effect,  — 

Therefore,  Voted,  That  it  be  considered  the  duty  of  each 
member  having  the  charge  of  a  school  to  see  that  the  order 
of  the  School  Committee,  respecting  the  admission  of  children 
into  our  schools  not  protected  by  the  kine  pock  inoculation 
or  otherwise  from  the  contagion  of  the  small  pox,  be  carried 
strictly  into  effect;  and  that  they  be  earnestly  requested  to 
interest  themselves  to  see  this  protection  extended  to  all 
those  who  are  now  members  of  the  schools,  who  may  not  be 
thus  protected. 

Voted,  That  the  district  committees  be  requested  to  obtain 
the  assistance  of  some  physician  for  this  purpose,  it  being 
understood  that  all  the  physicians  have  offered  their  gra 
tuitous  services  in  such  cases,  where  necessary. 

Voted,  That  to  every  certificate  or  order  for  admission 
furnished  to  children  applying  for  admission  to  the  schools 
after  the  above  order  shall  take  effect,  shall  be  added  the 
words  "  said  (A.  B.)  being  secured  from  being  subject  to  the 
small  pox." 

Voted,  That  the  above  votes,  with  the  order  of  the  School 
Committee,  be  printed,  and  a  copy  of  the  same  distributed  to 
the  members  of  the  district  committees  and  the  instructors  of 
the  several  schools. 

By  the  subsequent  action  of  the  City  Council,  Feb.  4, 
"  any  member  of  the  School  Committee,  and  of  the 
Primary  School  Committee,  is  authorized  to  issue  cer 
tificates  to  any  member  of  the  Boston  Medical  Asso 
ciation,  to  enable  any  inhabitant  of  Boston  to  enjoy  the 


ANNALS   OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  107 

advantage  of  gratuitous  vaccination,  for  him  or  herself, 
or  his  or  her  child,  in  the  form,  and  of  the  import, 
specified  in  the  resolve  of  the  City  Council,  passed 
March  12,  1827." 

1828. 

JAN.  15.     The  following  officers  were  elected  :  — 

Chairman  —  MOSES  GRANT. 

Secretary  —  WILLIAM  T.  ANDREWS. 

Standing  Committee  —  Thomas  Wells,  Chairman  ;  Moses 
Grant,  Secretary  ;  Joseph  Tuckerman,  B.  B.  Wisner,  J. 
P.  Blanchard,  John  P.  Spooner,  Lemuel  Capen,  Sebastian 
Streeter. 

Monitorial  instruction  having  been  introduced  with 
considerable  success  into  several  of  the  Primary  Schools, 
in  conformity  with  the  recommendation  of  the  Board, 
the  subject  was  regarded  with  such  favor  by  the  Gram 
mar  School  Committee  that  a  sub-committee  of  that 
body  reported,  "  that,  in  their  opinion,  the  number  of 
schools  could  be  reduced,  and  much  advantage  derived, 
from  reorganizing  all  the  Primary  Schools  upon  that 
plan.  This  report  was  accepted,  and  the  recommenda 
tion  of  the  Committee  was  referred  to  a  sub-committee, 
as  expressed  in  the  following  vote  :  — 

In  School  Committee,  Feb.  21,  1828. 

Voted,  That  the  Mayor,  Messrs.  Savage,  Armstrong,  Fowle, 
Barrett,  Adams  and  Farnsworth  be  a  Sub-Committee,  with 
authority  to  communicate  to  the  Primary  School  Committee 
the  views  contained  in  the  preceding  Report,  and  in  con 
junction  with  that  Committee,  to  devise  such  modifications 
of  the  present  system  of  those  schools  as  shall  be  deemed 
expedient  and  practicable,  and  lay  the  same  before  the  Board 
for  its  consideration  and  sanction. 


108  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRDIARY    SCHOOLS. 

This  vote  was  communicated  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Primary  Board,  in  a  note  from  the  Mayor,  as  follows :  — 

Boston,  Feb.  26, 1828. 

Sir:  —  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  a  vote  passed  by  the 
School  Committee  of  the  City  of  Boston,  appointing  a  Com 
mittee  on  the  subject  therein  expressed. 

I  am  directed  to  request  that  a  meeting  of  the  Primary 
School  Committee  may  be  called,  for  the  purpose  of  appoint 
ing  a  Sub-Committee,  to  meet,  discuss  and  arrange  with  the 
said  Sub-Committee  of  the  School  Committee  the  subjects 
specified  in  the  above  vote. 

The  Report  alluded  to  in  the  vote  will  be  ready  to  be 
delivered  to  the  members  of  the  Primary  School  Committee 
to-morrow,  and  a  sufficient  number  of  copies  will  be  delivered 
to  you  for  the  purpose  of  distribution. 

Respectfully,  I  am  your  humble  servant, 

JOSIAH  QUINCY, 

Mayor  and  Chairman  of  School  Committee. 
W.  T.  Andrews,  Esq., 
Secretary  Primary  School  Committee. 

P.  S.  —  The  Sub-Committee  of  the  School  Committee  will 
meet  the  Committee  of  Primary  Schools  at  any  time  they  may 
appoint. 

A  meeting  of  the  Primary  Board  was  accordingly 
held  on  the  evening  of  March  3,  at  which  Messrs.  Moses 
Grant,  Thomas  Wells,  Gerry  Fairbanks,  Geo.  B.  Emer 
son  and  Dr.  Chandler  Bobbins  were  appointed  a  Com 
mittee  of  Conference  on  the  subject  proposed. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Sub-Committees  on  the  llth  of 
March,  the  representatives  of  the  Primary  Board  urged 
as  preliminary  to  any  action,  the  necessity  of  suitable 
school-rooms  being  provided  by  the  city ;  inasmuch  as 


ANNALS    OF   THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  109 

the  rooms  now  furnished  by  the  teachers  were,  many  of 
them,  not  adapted  to  their  object,  —  often  too  small, 
badly  ventilated,  crowded,  and,  in  consequence,  un 
healthy  and  unpropitious  for  discipline ;  that  the  dif 
ficulty  of  obtaining  even  these  rooms  was  already  very 
great,  and  this  difficulty  would  be  much  increased  by 
the  adoption  of  the  system  of  Mutual  Instruction ;  by 
which  it  was  proposed  to  have  rooms  of  sufficient  size 
for  80  to  100  children,  to  be  under  the  charge  of  one 
teacher.  That  the  school-rooms  should  be  provided 
directly  by  the  city  was  also  evident,  from  the  fact 
that  the  present  arrangement  operates  very  unequally, 
and  with  great  injustice,  upon  some  of  the  teachers, 
because,  while  the  compensation  of  all  of  them  is  the 
same  ($250  per  annum),  the  rent  they  are  obliged  to 
pay  for  rooms  in  suitable  locations  varies,  in  different 
parts  of  the  city,  from  $40  to  $80.  If  this  difficulty 
could  be  obviated,  and  the  school-rooms  located  so  as 
to  be  convenient  for  the  children  to  attend,  and  the 
number  of  scholars  in  each  school  continue  to  be  regu 
lated  according  to  the  judgment  of  the  Primary  Board, 
and  the  change  in  the  system  gradually  introduced,  the 
Sub-Committee  expressed  their  opinion  that  the  modifi 
cation  proposed  by  the  Grammar  School  Committee 
might  be  advantageously  made ;  and,  as  the  teachers 
would  be  relieved  from  the  rent  of  their  rooms,  their 
annual  salaries  could  properly  be  reduced  to  $200. 

The  Sub-Cornmittee  of  the  Grammar  Board  acknowl 
edged  the  propriety  of  these  considerations,  and  ex 
pressed  their  entire  concurrence  in  these  views ;  and,  on 
the  14th  of  March,  the  report  of  the  Sub-Committee 
was  made  to  the  Primary  Board,  accompanied  by  a 


110        ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS. 

series  of  resolutions  in  favor  of  the  plan.  The  report 
and  resolutions  elicited  a  long  discussion,  which  con 
tinued,  by  adjournment,  through  several  evenings,  dur 
ing  which  strong  doubts  were  expressed  as  to  the 
propriety  of  any  action,  until  the  result  of  the  applica 
tion  of  the  Board  respecting  school  rooms  was  ascer 
tained.  This  and  other  reasons,  adverse  to  the  project, 
derived  from  the  experience  of  the  Committee,  caused 
the  Board  to  finally  vote  an  indefinite  postponement  of 
the  whole  subject. 

The  subject  having  been  thus  disposed  of,  renewed 
efforts  were  made  to  induce  the  City  Government  to 
make  provision  for  school-rooms;  and  on  the  loth  of 
March,  a  Committee,  consisting  of  MOSES  GRANT,  THOMAS 
WELLS,  and  Rev.  Dr.  JOSEPH  TUCKERMAN,  presented  a 
memorial  to  the  City  Council, "  respectfully  representing 
the  serious  evils,  and  bad  consequences,  resulting  from 
the  want  of  suitable  rooms  in  various  parts  of  the  city 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  Primary  Schools,  and 
praying  that  some  measures  may  be  adopted  to  remedy 
the  evils." 

This  memorial  was  referred,  March  31,  to  a  Com 
mittee  of  the  City  Council,  which,  on  the  14th  of  July, 
reported,  "  That,  having  examined  into  the  subject,  they 
are  satisfied  that  it  is  for  the  interest  of  the  city  to  pro 
vide  school-rooms  for  the  Primary  Schools ;  and  that,  as 
they  have  heretofore  been  provided  by  the  school 
mistresses,  a  proportionate  deduction  should  be  made 
from  their  salaries  on  that  account.  They  find  by  a 
report  made  to  them  by  the  Primary  School  Committee, 
that  the  present  whole  number  of  these  schools  is  57 ; 
the  annual  rent  paid  for  which  is  $2,673,  and  that  the 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  Ill 

average  rate  of  rent  is  $47 ;  but  that  of  all  these,  only 
24  of  the  rooms  are  deemed  satisfactory."  The  Com 
mittee  concluded  their  report  by  offering  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  passed  :  — 

Resolved,  That  the  School  Committee  be,  and  they  are 
hereby  authorized  to  cause  to  be  hired  a  suitable  number  of 
school-rooms,  in  such  locations  and  of  such  size  as,  after 
consultation  with  the  Primary  School  Committee,  shall  be 
deemed  expedient,  and  for  a  term  not  exceeding  ten  years ; 
and  that  for  this  purpose  they  be,  and  hereby  are,  authorized 
to  draw  upon  the  appropriation  for  the  Primary  Schools,  an 
amount  not  exceeding  in  the  whole  for  the  rent  of  all  such 
school-rooms,  the  sum  of  $2,700,  it  being  understood  that,  in 
consideration  of  the  instructresses  being  relieved  from  the 
expense  of  finding  school-rooms,  a  deduction  of  $50  be  made 
on  that  account  from  their  respective  salaries. 

This  action  of  the  City  Government  relieved  many 
of  the  members  of  the  Primary  Board  of  the  personal 
responsibility  they  had  been  obliged  to  assume  to  ob 
tain  proper  rooms  for  their  schools ;  but  it  is  singular 
that,  with  a  knowledge  of  the  difficulty  and  expense  of 
obtaining  rooms  in  suitable  locations,  and  that  24  of 
the  57  school-rooms  were  entirely  unfit  for  the  pur 
pose,  the  City  Council  should  have  made  an  appropria 
tion  of  less  than  $48  for  each  school,  which,  in  the 
aggregate,  was  $150  less  than  they  withdrew  from  the 
salaries  of  the  teachers,  on  this  account.  It  is  not  sur 
prising,  therefore,  that  with  these  limited  means,  the 
various  attempts  made  by  the  sub-committees  of  the 
Primary  Board  to  procure  suitable  rooms  should  have 
been  attended  with  but  partial  success. 


112  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Ten  years  having  now  elapsed  since  the  establish 
ment  of  the  Primary  Schools,  we  believe  it  will  be 
interesting  to  present  some  facts  in  relation  to  their 
condition,  operation  and  increase  at  the  close  of  that 
time.  This  we  are  gratified  in  being  able  to  do,  in 
the  form  of  a  letter  from  the  Chairman  of  the  Stand 
ing  Committee  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Grammar 
School  Board,  in  answer  to  a  note  from  the  latter, 
requesting  information  to  enable  him  to  make  the 
school  return  required  by  the  State : 

BOSTON,  May  20,  1828. 
JAMES  BOWDOIN,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  School  Committee: 

DEAR  SIR,  —  In  compliance  with  the  request  contained  in 
your  communication  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Primary  School 
Committee,  the  Standing  Committee  of  that  Board  respect 
fully  communicate  to  you  the  following  brief  particulars 
respecting  the  state  of  the  Primary  Schools,  as  they  existed 
for  the  period  of  one  year,  prior  to  the  first  of  April  of 
the  present  year,  as  taken  from  the  Standing  Committee's 
Reports  of  their  Semi-Annual  Examinations  up  to  that  time. 
This  being  the  most  recent  authentic  information  that  we 
have  it  in  our  power  to  furnish  from  existing  documents, 
we  hope  it  may  answer  the  required  purpose,  as  well  as 
though  it  extended  up  to  a  month  later. 

On  March  31,  1827,  there  were  8  Districts,  53  Schools, 
1,456  males,  1,566  females.  Total,  3,022;  average  to  a 
school,  57. 

On  September  30,  1827,  there  were  8  Districts,  56  Schools, 
1,606  males,  1,630  females.  Total,  3,236;  average  to  a 
school,  58. 

On  March  31,  1828,  there  were  8  Districts,  57  Schools, 
1,656  males,  1,698  females.  Total,  3,354;  average  to  a 
school,  59.  With  one  female  teacher  to  each  school,  mak 
ing  57  teachers. 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  113 

During  tins  period,  622  qualified  pupils  have  been  removed 
by  the  Committee;  with  recommendations  to  the  Grammar 
Schools,  besides  those  who  have  left  without  such  recommend 
ations,  or  who  have  removed  elsewhere ;  whose  number  it  is 
not  in  our  power  to  ascertain  exactly,  but  we  think  ourselves 
safe  in  assuming  10  to  each  school  that  was  in  operation 
at  the  commencement  of  the  year,  making  the  total  of  530; 
which,  added  to  the  numbers  now  in  the  schools,  and 
numbers  sent  to  the  Grammar  Schools,  will  give  an  aggregate 
of  4,506  pupils,  who  we  hope  have  derived  benefit  from  the 
Primary  Schools  during  the  year. 

Kespecting  the  aggregate  number  of  pupils  admitted,  and 
distinction  of  those  who  came  from  other  Public  or  Primary 
Schools,  it  is  not  easy  to  determine;  for,  although  in  each 
school  a  Record  is  kept  of  the  admissions  and  removals,  yet 
it  does  not,  nor  cannot  always  explain  whence  they  come 
or  whither  they  go.  We  estimate,  however,  that  about  1,500 
pupils  who  did  not  before  belong  to  the  Public  School 
establishment,  have  been  admitted  into  the  Primary  Schools 
during  the  year,  from  April  1,  1827,  to  April  1,  1828. 

The  average  annual  expense  for  books  to  each  pupil  we 
estimate  at  about  50  cents,  which,  on  the  present  numbers, 
will  give  an  aggregate  of  $1,677,  which,  added  to  an  equita 
ble  estimate,  for  those  who  have  left  during  the  year,  may 
raise  the  aggregate  on  this  head  to  about  $2,000.  All  other 
expenses  are  paid  by  the  city. 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 

THOMAS  WELLS. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting,  July  15,  Mr.  WILLIAM  T. 
ANDREWS  resigned  the  office  of  Secretary  of  the  Board, 
which  he  had  discharged  with  great  ability  and  satisfac 
tion,  and  Mr.  FREDERIC  T.  GRAY  was  elected. 

15 


114  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Mr.  J.  P.  Blanchard,  from  the  Committee  appointed 
at  a  previous  meeting,  reported  an  amendment  to 
"  Rule  V.  That  two  dollars  shall  be  annually  appropri 
ated  to  each  school  for  the  encouragement  of  the  chil 
dren,  and  a  sum  proportioned  to  the  number  of  schools 
in  each  District,  shall  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the 
respective  District  Committees,  which  they  shall  expend 
and  apply  as  they  may  judge  most  effectual  for  that 
purpose." 

A  communication  was  received  from  Hon.  II.  G. 
OTIS,  and  fifteen  others,  inhabitants  of  Ward  No.  C, 
representing  that  there  were  more  than  40  children 
in  their  vicinity  of  suitable  age,  not  provided  for  in 
the  existing  Primary  Schools,  and  praying  that  a  new 
school  may  be  established.  The  subject  was  referred 
to  the  Committee  of  District  No.  4,  with  authority 
to  establish  a  new  school  as  soon  as  40  children  are 
found  of  suitable  age. 

OCTOBER  21.  Rev.  Messrs.  WISNER  and  TUCKERMAN 
having  resigned  as  members  of  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  Messrs.  GERRY  FAIRBANKS  and  FRANCIS  JACKSON 
were  elected  to  the  vacancies ;  and  it  was  "  Voted, 
That  the  thanks  of  this  Board  be  presented  to  Messrs. 
Wisner  and  Tuckerman  for  their  valuable  services." 

It  was  also  "Voted,  That  Messrs.  Parkman,  Hatch 
and  Robbins  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration 
the  subject  of  supplying  vacancies  that  may  occur  in 
the  Standing  Committee." 


ANNALS   OP  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  115 

1829. 

JANUARY  20.     The  officers  elected  were  as  follows  : 

Chairman  —  MOSES  GRANT. 

Secretary  —  FREDERIC  T.  GRAY. 

Standing  Committee  —  Thomas  Wells,  Chairman.  Moses 
Grant,  Secretary.  Lemuel  Capen,  J.  P.  Blanchard,  John 
P.  Spooner,  John  P.  Bigelow,  Francis  Parkman,  Gerry 
Fairbanks. 

The  Committee  appointed  last  October,  on  the  sub 
ject  of  vacancies  in  the  Standing  Committee,  reported 
"  That  it  was  expedient  to  amend  the  Rules,  so  as  to 
authorize  the  Standing  Committee  to  select  candidates 
to  fill  any  vacancies  which  may  occur  in  their  num 
ber;"  which  report  was  unanimously  accepted.  At 
the  meeting,  Dr.  DAVIS  and  Messrs.  GRAY  and  WELLS 
were  appointed  a  Special  Committee  "  to  prepare 
and  have  printed  a  correct  table  of  the  organization 
of  the  Primary  Schools ;  to  .  procure  a  suitable  num 
ber  of  copies  of  the  Rules  and  Regulations,  as  they 
now  exist;  to  furnish  each  member  with  two  copies 
of  the  same;  to  have  printed  such  blanks  as  may 
be  necessary,  and  to  cause  the  table  above  referred 
to  to  be  published  in  several  of  the  newspapers  of 
this  city." 

APRIL  21.  Rev.  MELLISH  I.  MOTTE  was  elected  on  the 
Standing  Committee,  in  place  of  GERRY  FAIRBANKS, 
Esq.,  resigned.  The  Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  Stand 
ing  Committee,  giving  a  statement  of  the  several 
schools,  drawn  up  with  great  care,  and  presenting  a 
detailed  account  of  the  several  Districts,  was  read 
by  the  Chairman,  Mr.  Wells,  and  accepted. 


116  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

In  addition  to  the  circumstances  usually  attended 
to  in  the  Semi-Annual  Examinations,  the  Standing 
Committee  were  particular  in  their  inquiries  relating 
to  some  objects  especially  occupying  the  attention 
of  the  Board. 

In  regard  to  the  character  of  the  rooms,  on  which  a  petition 
from  the  Board  is  now  before  the  city,  it  is  ascertained  that 
of  57  schools  examined,  about  28  are  held  in  rather  commo 
dious  rooms,  and  29  in  those  which  are  poor  and  inadequate. 
Of  the  28  good  ones,  however,  there  are  but  about  one- third 
which  are  of  large  size. 

Of  12  schools  now  taught  on  the  Monitorial  System,  none 
are  reported  as  having  decidedly  deteriorated  since  its  adop 
tion;  some  are  represented  as  improved  under  it,  and  others 
.are  represented  as  doubtful,  or  equal  to  their  former  state. 

Tuition  in  Needlework  is  yet  strictly  maintained  in  some 
Districts,  but  in  general  this  branch  of  education  has  fallen 
into  decline. 

By  Section  3,  Rule  8,  the  several  District  Committees  will 
soon  be  called  upon  to  discharge  a  very  important  duty,  viz. : 
on  the  week  preceding  the  May  vacation,  to  elect  the  in 
structors  for  their  respective  schools,  and  report  the  same  to 
the  Standing  Committee  within  ten  days.  The  utility  of  this 
rule  is  apparent,  and  affords  an  opportunity  for  the  District 
Committee  to  suspend  a  choice,  or  elect  on  a  limited  term 
such  instructors  as  do  not  advance  their  schools  to  that  rank 
which  is  so  generally  attained. 

The  Committee  on  School-rooms,  which  was  appointed 
to  carry  into  effect  the  vote  of  the  City  Council,  July 
14,  1828,  reported,  "that  they  had  attended  to  the 
duties  assigned  them,  and  had  done  all  that  lay  in  their 
power  to  procure  suitable  rooms,  but  as  some  other 
course  appeared  to  them  necessary,  they  begged  to 


ANNALS   OP    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  117 

be  discharged  from  further  duty."  The  report  was 
accepted,  and  the  request  granted. 

After  some  discussion  upon  the  want  and  necessity 
of  school-rooms,  it  was  "Voted,  That  a  Committee  of 
five  be  appointed  to  memorialize  the  City  Council 
and  School  Committee,  that  school-rooms  should  be 
purchased  or  built  on  account  of  the  city,  in  places 
where  they  cannot  be  now  obtained  on  leases  of  suit 
able  character  or  location."  Messrs.  J.  P.  Blanchard, 
John  P.  Bigelow,  Dr.  McKean,  Dr.  C.  Bobbins,  and 
John  Gulliver  were  chosen  on  this  Committee. 

Considerable  discussion  having  ensued  upon  a  motion 
to  change  the  hour  of  commencing  the  schools  in  the 
afternoon,  it  was  finally  "Voted,  That  the  District 
Committees  have  permission,  during  the  months  of 
May,  June,  July  and  August,  to  commence  their 
schools  at  2  or  3  o'clock,  and  keep  three  hours."  The 
necessity  of  uniformity  in  the  conducting  of  all  the 
schools  being  apparent  to  the  Committee,  this  per 
mission  does  not  seem  to  have  been  acted  upon  by 
the  District  Committees. 

JULY  21.  Mr.  GEORGE  B.  EMERSON,  Chairman  of  a 
Committee  on  the  subject  of  appropriations  for  Re 
wards,  made  a  verbal  report,  recommending  that  the 
money  be  appropriated  in  all  the  districts  to  the 
establishment  of  small  libraries  for  the  use  of  meri 
torious  scholars. 

The  Committee  on  Rooms  reported,  "That  they 
had  addressed  a  letter  to  the  City  Council,  but  no 
answer  had  yet  been  received." 

OCTOBER  20.  At  the  regular  quarterly  meeting, 
Mr.  GEO.  A.  SAMPSON,  of  tho  Committee  appointed  at 


118  ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

the  last  meeting,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  amend 
ing  Rule  8,  Section  IV.,  made  a  report,  recommending 
that  the  schools  shall  hereafter  be  kept  on  Thursday 
afternoon,  and  a  recess  be  allowed  on  Wednesday 
afternoon,  in  order  to  conform  to  a  similar  change 
recently  introduced  into  the  Grammar  Schools."  The 
report  was  accepted,  and  the  change  ordered  to  be 
made  after  the  first  of  November  next. 

This  change  had  been  recommended  by  the  Stand 
ing  Committee,  and  adopted  by  a  vote  of  the  Pri 
mary  Board,  in  August,  1823 ;  but  in  consequence 
of  the  propriety  of  having  a  uniform  rule  in  this 
respect  for  all  the  public  schools,  and  the  Grammar 
Board  objecting  to  make  the  change  at  that  time, 
the  Primary  Board  deferred  any  action  on  their  vote, 
until  the  change  had  been  made  in  the  Grammar 
Schools. 

Messrs.  Lincoln  and  Edrnands  having  informed  the 
Board  that  they  had  lately  published  an  improved 
edition  of  "Emerson's  First  Lessons  in  Arithmetic," 
and  requested  that  it  be  introduced  into  the  schools, 
in  place  of  the  one  now  in  use,  it  was  "Voted,  That 
this  subject  be  referred  to  the  Standing  Committee, 
with  power  to  act  thereon,  as  they  may  judge 
expedient." 

The  Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  Standing  Commit 
tee,  giving  the  results  of  their  last  examinations,  was 
presented  by  Mr.  JOHN  P.  BIGELOW.  After  a  faithful 
exposition  of  the  state  of  the  schools,  Mr.  Bigelow 
concludes  his  report  with  the  following  judicious 
remarks. 


ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  119 

The  Standing  Committee  have  thus  endeavored  to  present 
an  accurate,  though  succinct,  view  of  the  situation  of  the 
Primary  Schools.  In  doing  so,  they  regret  exceedingly  the 
necessity  of  speaking,  as  they  have  done,  with  some  severity, 
in  relation  to  the  management  and  condition  of  a  few  of  the 
individual  schools.  They  are  satisfied,  however,  that  most  of 
the  evils  which  they  have  noticed  are  not  of  so  deep  a  char 
acter  but  that  they  may  be  thoroughly  corrected  by  a  little 
wholesome  advice  and  caution  to  the  teachers,  and  by  a  little 
more  attention  in  some  of  the  districts  on  the  part  of  the 
gentlemen  who  compose  the  local  committees.  The  cause  in 
which  we  are  engaged  is  a  good,  and  it  may  almost  be  said  to 
be  a  holy  one.  By  earnest,  untiring,  and  disinterested  efforts 
in  this  cause  by  our  predecessors,  immense  benefits  have  re 
dounded  to  the  community  in  which  we  live.  Let  us  be  care 
ful,  then,  that  the  institution  shall  not  essentially  deteriorate 
nor  languish  while  under  our  own  auspices  j  and  may  we  re 
double  our  diligence  and  watchfulness  under  the  unerring  con 
viction  that,  in  advancing  the  cause  of  education,  we  are 
promoting,  by  the  surest  methods,  the  greatest  and  best  in 
terests  of  our  country  and  our  religion. 

Mr.  J.  P.  BLANCHARD,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  ap 
pointed  April  21,  1829,  to  petition  the  City  Council  to 
erect  suitable  School-rooms  at  the  expense  of  the  city, 
read  a  copy  of  a  petition,  which  had  been  presented  to 
that  body,  which  he  submitted  as  a  report  of  progress, 
and  for  information.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the 
Board,  Nov.  18,  "  the  Eeport  of  the  Committee  on 
Rules  and  Regulations  was  taken  up,  acted  upon  by 
sections,  and,  after  some  amendments,  was  accepted,  and 
ordered  to  be  printed  for  the  use  of  the  Board." 

Dec.  29,  1829,  the  Standing  Committee  held  a  special 
meeting  to  act  upon  the  subject  of  introducing  the 


120  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRLMARY   SCHOOLS. 

"North  American  Arithmetic,"  referred  to  them,  and 
after  due  consideration,  directed  Mr.  J.  P.  Blanchard  to 
report  the  following  resolution  to  the  Board  :  - 

Resolved,  That  the  "  North  American  Arithmetic  "  be  sub 
stituted  for  the  "  Primary  Lessons  "  in  all  cases  where  new 
books  are  wanted ;  and  with  all,  as  soon  as  they  can  bo  ob 
tained  without  inconvenient  expense  to  the  parent. 

It  was  also 

Voted,  That  Mr.  Grant  and  Dr.  McKean  be  a  Committee  to 
see  that  a  regular  and  correct  list  of  all  the  members  who 
intend  to  serve  another  year  be  presented  to  the  Grammar 
School  Committee  for  their  consideration  and  appointment. 

1830. 

JAN.  19.  The  Secretary  of  the  School  Committee 
having  informed  the  Board  of  their  reappointment,  they 
proceeded  to  organize  themselves  by  the  choice  of  the 
following  officers:  — 

Chairman  —  MOSES  GRANT. 

Secretary  —  FREDERIC  T.  GRAY. 

Standing  Committee  —  Francis  Parkman,  Chairman  ; 
Lewis  G.  Pray,  Secretary;  Joshua  P.  Blanchard,  John  P. 
Spooner,  Lemuel  Capen,  John  P.  Bigelow,  Chandler 
Bobbins,  and  Joseph  W.  McKean. 

Dr.  SPOONER,  of  the  Standing  Committee,  read  the 
Semi-Annual  Report,  drawn  from  the  returns  of  the 
District  Committees,  which  was  unanimously  accepted. 
From  this  we  learn  that  there  were  57  schools,  to  which 
there  were  3,583  pupils  belonging,  viz.,  1,757  girls, 
1,816  boys;  and  in  addition,  1,031  had  been  qualified, 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  121 

and  left  for  the  Grammar  Schools,  during  the  past  six 
months.  The  number  of  visits,  or  examinations,  by  the 
Committees  was  277,  which  is  nearly  an  average  of 
five  to  each  school.  The  report  closes  with  the  following 
deserved  tribute  to  the  memory  of  two  of  the  early 
and  faithful  friends  of  the  Primary  Schools :  — 

It  is  with  much  regret  that  it  becomes  our  duty  to  notice 
the  loss  which  the  Board  has  sustained  in  the  death  of  Mr. 
THOMAS  WELLS  and  Mr.  GERRY  FAIRBANKS.  Mr.  FAIRBANKS 
was  for  many  years  previous  to  his  death  connected  with 
this  Board.  We  lament  his  loss,  for  his  sober  judgment,  his 
influence  in  society,  and  his  interest  in  everything  which 
served  to  improve  the  character  of  the  community,  and  estab 
lish  on  a  firm  basis  our  republican  institutions,  rendered  him 
a  very  important  member  of  this  Committee. 

Mr.  WELLS  has  been  connected  with  this  Board  almost 
ever  since  the  establishment  of  the  schools  in  1818;  and  for 
several  years  has  acted  as  the  Chairman  of  the  Standing 
Committee,  which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  decease. 
He  was  a  man  of  whom  it  can  be  truly  said, — He  was 
scrupulously  faithful  to  every  trust  committed  to  him.  All 
who  were  acquainted  with  him  in  connection  with  our 
schools,  knew  the  deep  interest  which  he  felt  in  their  wel 
fare;  and  there  is  no  one  among  us  who  gave  to  those 
schools  more  thought,  and  time,  and  labor  than  he  did.  He 
has  left  behind  him  too  many  evidences  of  his  usefulness  to 
stand  in  need  of  our  praises.  We  feel  that  more  than  we 
can  give  is  due  to  his  memory,  and  we  offer  thus  much  from 
a  sincere  regard  to  the  worth  of  his  character." 

On  motion  of  Dr.  Davis,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  cause  the  several  schools 
belonging  to  this  establishment  to  be  provided  with  signs  of 
sufficient  size,  affixed  to  some  part  of  the  buildings  in  which 

16 


122  ANNALS    OF  TIIE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

such  schools  arc  respectively  located,  or  to  some  conspicuous 
place  in  the  vicinity,  and  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to 
apply  to  the  city  to  meet  this  expense.  Messrs.  Davis, 
Hatch,  and  Blanchard  were  appointed  the  Committee,  and 
they  reported  at  the  next  meeting,  April  20,  that  they  had 
attended  to  the  duty,  and  had  caused  the  signs  to  be  affixed 
to  all  the  schools  except  those  in  District  8  (South  Boston). 
Upon  which  the  thanks  of  the  Board  were  voted  to  this 
Committee  for  the  very  prompt  and  satisfactory  manner  in 
which  they  have  discharged  their  duties. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  Feb.  9, 
Rev.  FRANCIS  PARKMAN  was  chosen  Chairman,  and  Mr. 
J.  P.  BLANCHARD,  Secretary  of  the  Committee.  Mr. 
Blanchard  declining  this  office,  Mr.  LEWIS  G.  PRAY  was 
chosen  in  his  place. 

Mr.  MOSES  GRANT  having  performed  the  arduous 
duties  of  Secretary  of  the  Standing  Committee  from 
1820,  and  the  duties  of  Chairman  of  the  Board 
from  1825,  resigned  the  former  office  at  this  time  ;  but 
the  Committee,  being  desirous  of  retaining  his  valuable 
experience  in  their  body,  "  Voted,  That  the  Chairman 
and  Secretary  of  the  whole  Board  be  requested  to  attend 
the  meetings  of  the  Standing  Committee,  and  aid  the 
members  in  the  discharge  of  their  various  duties  by 
their  experience  and  advice ;  and  the  Secretary  is 
hereby  directed  to  notify  said  officers  of  the  meetings 
of  the  Committee." 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board,  Rev.  Mr. 
CAPEN  read  the  Semi- Annual  Report  of  the  Standing 
Committee  on  the  state  of  the  schools,  which  were 
represented  as  being  generally  in  a  flourishing  condi 
tion.  But  the  Committee  regretted  to  find,  "  that  in 
many  schools,  there  appeared  to  be  a  disposition  in  the 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  123 

instructors  to  bring  forward  the  upper  classes  in 
branches  not  prescribed  in  the  Rules  and  Regulations. 
Exercises  in  geometry,  geography,  and  natural  phil 
osophy  have  been  introduced,  to  the  manifest  neglect 
of  what,  in  a  primary  school,  should  be  considered  of 
primary  importance,  viz.,  correct  reading  and  thorough 
spelling.  Another  evil  of  great  magnitude  has  also 
resulted  from  this  procedure;  that  many  instructors, 
emulous  to  advance  the  children  under  their  care  to 
a  higher  rank  than  those  in  other  schools,  have  greatly 
exceeded  the  regular  school  hours,  to  the  manifest 
injury  of  the  health  and  constitutions  of  the  children." 
For  these  reasons  the  following  resolution  was  offered 
by  the  Standing  Committee  to  the  Board  : 

Ilcsohed,  That  the  instructors  in  the  several  schools  be 
forthwith  directed  to  conform  strictly  to  the  hours  for  be 
ginning  and  closing  the  schools,  specified  in  the  Rules  and 
Regulations  of  the  Primary  Schools ;  and  also  to  the  course 
of  instruction  there  laid  down  for  the  several  classes  of 
children  under  their  care. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  was  accepted ;  the 
resolution  was  unanimously  adopted,  ordered  to  be 
printed,  and  a  copy  to  be  distributed  to  each  of  the 
Committee,  and  teachers  connected  with  the  Board. 

This  is  a  marked  instance  of  the  ever- watchful  care 
exercised  by  the  Standing  Committee,  whose  prompt 
and  timely  warnings  tended  so  often  to  guard  the 
schools  from  impulsive  innovations,  and  confine  ele 
mentary  education  to  its  legitimate  and  proper  sphere. 

Among  other  benevolent  enterprises  which  were  con 
nected  with  public  education,  "  Infant  Schools  "  had 
occupied  considerable  attention,  and  at  this  time  were 


124  ANNALS    OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

quite  popular  and  successful,  under  the  auspices  of 
societies  and  individuals.  These  schools  were  started 
with  the  laudable  object  of  taking  charge  of  those 
children,  from  two  to  four  years  of  age,  whose  parents 
were  dependent  upon  their  daily  labor;  and  during 
school  hours  to  interest  them  in  some  way  adapted  to 
their  age  and  capacity.  To  render  the  school  attrac 
tive,  pictures  and  natural  objects,  singing,  marching, 
and  other  exercises  were  introduced,  which  were  made 
the  means  of  imparting  instruction  to  the  pupils ;  and 
it  was  also  thought,  by  its  friends,  that  the  instruction 
and  discipline  to  which  the  children  were  thus  early 
subjected,  would  be  advantageous  to  the  Primary 
Schools.  This  idea  of  partially  relieving  the  poor 
parents  from  the  care  of  their  little  ones  was  highly 
commendable,  and  worthy  of  the  kind  hearts  that  pro 
jected  and  encouraged  it ;  but  the  attempt  to  learn 
children  of  this  tender  age  spelling  lessons,  and  even 
lessons  in  arithmetic  and  geography,  by  singing  them 
in  concert,  while  marching  to  time,  gave  them  a  restless 
habit  and  a  sing-song  style  which  it  was  subsequently 
found  almost  impossible  to  eradicate,  and  caused  more 
trouble  to  the  teachers  of  the  Primary  Schools  than  all 
the  advantage  the  pupils  had  derived  from  the  instruc 
tion  they  had  received.  The  bad  effects  of  these  habits 
gradually  became  so  marked,  that  at  the  quarterly 
meeting,  in  April,  1830,  on  motion  of  Mr.  G.  B. 
Emerson,  it  was  "  Voted,  That  each  instructor  be  directed 
to  ascertain,  when  children  enter  her  school,  whether 
they  have  attended  any  '  Infant  School/  and  for  what 
length  of  time ;  and  if  they  have,  to  note  these  facts 
by  placing  a  particular  mark  against  their  names  in 
the  record  book  of  the  school." 


ANNALS    OF   THE  PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  125 

For  the  purpose  of  acquiring  correct  information 
upon  this  subject,  the  Standing  Committee  passed  an 
order  Sept.  3,  1830,  that  at  the  Semi- Annual  examina 
tion,  the  several  committees  shall  ascertain  "how  many 
children  are  from  Infant  Schools,  and  whether  they 
are  more  forward  than  others  of  the  same  age."  In 
conformity  with  these  instructions,  the  Committees  re 
ported  the  result  of  their  inquiries ;  and  although  the 
numbers  varied  in  the  different  schools,  yet  there  was 
a  remarkable  similarity  in  all  the  reports  respecting 
the  character  and  influence  of  those  children  who  had 
been  admitted  from  Infant  Schools.  The  report  of 
Mr.  JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,  on  the  schools  in  District  No.  4, 
expresses  the  views  and  experience  of  the  teachers, 
and  of  the  examiners,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  answer 
for  the  reports  of  all  of  them.  He  observes :  —  "  With 
regard  to  children  from  '  Infant  Schools/  it  is  the  de 
cided  opinion  of  every  instructress  in  the  district,  who 
has  had  any  experience  on  the  subject,  that  it  is  better 
to  receive  children  into  the  Primary  Schools  who  have 
had  no  instruction  whatever,  than  those  who  have 
graduated  with  the  highest  honors  of  the  Infant  Semi 
naries.  It  is  stated  that  these  children  are  peculiarly 
restless  in  their  habits,  and  are  thereby  the  cause  of 
restlessness  and  disorder  among  the  other  children; 
and  it  does  not  appear  that  their  previous  instruction 
renders  them,  in  any  respect,  peculiarly  proficient  or 
forward  in  the  studies  of  the  Primary  Schools." 

In  other  reports,  these  pupils  are  spoken  of  as  in 
tractable  and  troublesome,  restless  from  want  of  con 
stant  excitement,  and  their  attention  with  difficulty 
fixed  upon  their  studies.  From  the  evidence  which 
was  thus  obtained,  the  Standing  Committee  were  satis- 


126  ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

fied  that  "  no  good  effect  had  resulted  from  the  new 
and  popular  system  of  <  Infant  Schools/  regarded  as  a 
means  of  discipline  and  instruction,  preparatory  to  ad 
mission  into  the  Primary  Schools."  This  Report  was 
made  to  the  Board  by  Dr.  CHANDLER  BOBBINS,  and  unani 
mously  accepted  at  the  quarterly  meeting,  Oct.  19, 
1830. 

1831. 

JAN.  18.  The  Board  was  organized  by  the  unan 
imous  election  of 

Chairman  —  MOSES  GRANT. 

Secretary  —  FREDERIC  T.  GRAY. 

Standing  Committee  —  Rev.  Francis  Parkman,C%az>;?zaw; 
Mr.  Lewis  G.  Pray,  Secretary  ;  Dr.  John  P.  Spooner,  Dr. 
Joseph  W.  McKean,  Dr.  Chandler  Robbins,  Mr.  John  P. 
Bigelow,  Mr.  Daniel  Henchman,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Capen. 

The  thanks  of  the  Board  were  voted  to  Mr.  JOHN  P. 
BLANCHARD,  for  the  very  faithful  manner  in  which  he  had 
so  long  discharged  his  duty  as  a  member  of  the.  Stand 
ing  Committee,  and  Dr.  DANIEL  HENCHMAN  was  chosen 
in  his  place. 

A  vote  was  passed  directing  the  Secretary,  when 
notifying  gentlemen  of  their  election  as  members  of 
the  Board,  to  furnish  them  with  a  correct  copy  of  the 
Rules  and  Regulations,  and  of  the  organization  of  the 
Board. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  Jan.  10, 
the  Secretary  was  "  instructed  to  inform  the  Committee 
of  District  No.  5  that  a  complaint  had  been  made  to 
them  of  a  violation  of  the  Rules  of  the  Board,  by  the 
instructor  of  School  No.  3,  in  the  use  of  a  Catechism 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  127 

not  authorized  by  their  Regulations,  and  by  which  one 
parent  had  been  deterred  from  exercising  his  privilege 
in  the  school."  On  motion  of  Rev.  Mr.  Capen,  this 
subject  was  ordered  to  be  noticed  in  the  Semi- Annual 
Report  to  the  Board,  which  was  made  by  Dr.  J.  P. 
SPOONER,  Jan.  18.  This  portion  of  the  report  occasioned 
considerable  discussion,  but  the  action  of  the  Standing 
Committee  was  sustained,  and  the  Secretary  of  the 
Board  was  directed  to  address  a  note  to  the  several 
districts,  requiring  strict  conformity  to  the  Rules  in 
regard  to  the  books  and  studies  authorized  in  the 

o 

schools.  By  a  subsequent  vote,  the  Standing  Com 
mittee  were  requested  to  take  into  consideration  an 
alteration  of  the  u  Rules  "  to  render  them  more  restric 
tive  in  this  respect.  In  conformity  with  this  vote,  the 
Standing  Committee  reported  a  recommendation  that 
"Rule  7,  Sect.  4,  be  made  absolute  by  striking  out 
the  words  '  without  the  permission  of  the  District 
Committee,'  and  that  to  Rule  5,  Sect.  5,  be  added  the 
following :  '  provided  that  no  publications  of  a  sectarian 
or  controversial  character  be  admitted/  which  were 
unanimously  adopted  by  the  Board  April  19,  1831. 

At  this  meeting  the  resignation  of  Rev.  LEMUEL 
CAPEN,  as  a  member  of  the  Standing  Committee,  was 
communicated  to  the  Board,  and  Mr.  GEORGE  B.  EMER 
SON  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The  thanks  of  the 
Board  were  "  presented  to  Mr.  Capen  for  his  able  and 
faithful  services,  for  many  years,  as  a  member  of  the 
Standing  Committee."  A  Committee  of  one  from  each 
district  was  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
introducing  instruction  in  vocal  music  into  the  Primary 
Schools. 


128  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  Oct.  11, 
Mr.  G.  B.  Emerson  was  requested  to  prepare  the  Semi- 
Amiual  Report  for  the  Board,  and  "was  instructed  to 
embody  in  the  report,  the  opinion  of  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  that  it  is  expedient  to  divide  the  schools,  so  as 
to  enlarge  the  number  of  districts  to  ten,  exclusive  of 
South  Boston  ; "  and  that  the  Rules  and  Regulations 
should  be  amended,  so  that  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Standing  Committee  to  make  the  Semi-Annual  exami 
nations  in  the  months  of  April  and  October  instead  of 
March  and  September.  Messrs.  Emerson,  McKean  and 
Grant  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  plan 
of  the  proposed  new  districts  to  submit  to  the  Board. 

The  Report  and  plan  were  submitted  to  the  Board  at 
the  quarterly  meeting,  Oct.  18,  who  adopted  the  re 
commendation  in  relation  to  the  change  of  time  for  the 
semi-annual  examinations;  but,  after  some  discussion, 
deferred  action  upon  the  increase  of  districts  until  a 
subsequent  meeting  (Dec.  6),  when  it  was  voted  to  be 
"  inexpedient  to  alter  the  present  arrangement  of  the 
Primary  School  Districts."  But,  to  relieve  the  Standing 
Committee  of  their  onerous  duties,  they  were  "  author 
ized  to  nominate  to  the  Board  such,  and  so  many,  mem 
bers  of  the  Standing  Committee  as  they  shall  deem 
necessary." 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  subject  of 
the  delinquency  of  members,  reported,  through  Mr.  J. 
W.  Ingraham,  their  Chairman,  "  That  it  is  expedient  to 
amend  the  Rules,  so  that  any  member  neglecting  the 
required  duties  for  three  consecutive  months  shall  be 
considered  as  having  resigned  his  office,  unless  the 
Secretary  of  the  district  shall  receive  satisfactory  evi- 


OF   TRK 

UNIVERSITY 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMAR 


dence  that  he  was  prevented  from  attending  by  sick 
ness,  or  absence  from  the  city ;  and  the  District  Com 
mittee  shall  proceed  forthwith  to  nominate  some  person 
to  fill  the  vacancy."  This  Report  was  adopted,  and 
ordered  to  be  incorporated  into  the  Rules. 

An  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  Dec.  6, 
1831,  at  which  Mr.  LEWIS  G.  PRAY  reported  "That  their 
memorial  to  the  City  Government,  in  relation  to  estab 
lishing  '  Intermediate  Schools/  had  been  for  some  time 
in  the  hands  of  the  School  Committee,  and  that  the 
City  Solicitor  had  been  requested  to  give  his  opinion  in 
relation  to  the  power  of  the  School  Committee  to  estab 
lish  such  schools ;  and  that  a  copy  of  the  memorial  had 
been  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  member  of  the  Common 
Council,  which  was  awaiting  the  decision  of  the  Com 
mittee." 

A  Eeport  was  read  by  Mr.  G.  B.  EMERSON  from  the 
Committee  of  Conference  with  the  Grammar  Board,  ap 
pointed  at  the  last  meeting,  on  the  subject  of  a  want 
of  conformity  between  the  Regulations  of  the  Grammar 
and  Primary  School  Boards,  accompanied  by  a  com 
munication  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Grammar  Board, 
enclosing  the  following  votes  passed  by  that  body  Nov. 
23, 1831,  viz.:  — 

Voted)  That  the  rules  be  amended  so  as  to  read  "  children 
may  be  admitted  into  the  English  Grammar  Schools  at  the 
age  of  seven  years,  bringing  a  certificate  from  a  Primary 
School,  or  having  received  the  necessary  preparatory  instruc 
tion  at  other  schools.  Their  qualifications  shall  be  ascer 
tained  by  the  master,  &c,,  as  in  the  printed  rules." 

Voted,  That  it  is  expedient  that  a  Joint  Standing  Com 
mittee  of  three  from  each  of  the  two  Boards  of  the  School 

17 


130  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Committee,  and  of  the  Committee  on  Primary  Schools,  be 
annually  appointed  to  secure  the  introduction  and  continuance 
of  a  uniform  system  of  instruction  in  the  Public  Schools,  and 
to  confer,  as  occasion  may  arise,  on  subjects  of  common  in 
terest;  and  that  the  first  appointment  of  said  Committee  be 
made  in  each  Board  on  the  acceptance  of  this  report,  and 
notice  thereof  be  reciprocally  communicated  by  the  Secretaries 
of  the  two  Boards.  These  votes  having  been  adopted,  the 
Rev.  EZRA  S.  GANNETT,  Alderman  HENRY  FARNUM  and  Rev. 
SEBASTIAN  STREETER  were  appointed  a  Standing  Committee  of 
Conference  on  the  part  of  the  Grammar  Board. 

S.  F.  McCLEARY.  Secretary. 

The  first  proposition  of  the  School  Committee,  in 
relation  to  the  admission  of  children  in  the  Gram 
mar  School,  was  not  accepted,  although  it  was  earnestly 
recommended  in  Mr.  Emerson's  report.  The  ground 
of  objection  was,  that  it  abrogated  the  certificate  of 
the  Primary  School  Committee,  and  made  the  Gram 
mar  School  Master  the  sole  judge  of  the  qualifications 
of  the  child. 

The  second  proposition  was  accepted,  and  Messrs. 
L.  G.  PRAY,  G.  B.  EMERSON,  and  SAMUEL  HOWE  were 
appointed  the  Standing  Committee  of  Conference, 
on  the  part  of  the  Primary  Board. 

1832. 

At  the  regular  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Standing 
Committee,  January  10,  on  motion  of  Mr.  J.  P. 
Bigelow,  the  semi-annual  returns  of  the  Districts 
were  referred  to  the  Chairman,  Rev.  Dr.  PARKMAN, 
to  make  an  abstract,  and  report  for  the  use  of  the 
Board.  From  this  report  it  appears  that  on  the  31st 


ANNALS    OF  THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  131 

of  December,  1831,  there  were  64  schools,  contain 
ing  1,759  girls  and  2,010  boys— total,  3,769,  being  an 
average  of  59  to  each  school.  That  in  the  course 
of  six  months  there  were  358  examinations,  and  350 
visits,  by  the  Committees,  being  an  average  of  be 
tween  five  and  six  examinations  to  each  school.  In 
regard  to  the  introduction  of  new  experimental  studies 
into  some  of  the  schools,  or  the  change  of  school 
books,  as  suggested  in  several  of  the  District  reports, 
the  Standing  Committee  observe,  "  that  all  such  im 
provements,  whatever  their  value,  can  only  be  properly 
introduced  as  a  part  of  a  general  system,  and  with 
the  consent  and  approbation  of  the  whole  Board. 
Uniformity  in  the  system  of  studies  and  instruction 
is  supposed  by  the  very  establishment  of  our  Board, 
and  is  essential,  not  less  to  the  order  of  the  schools 
themselves,  than  to  the  public  confidence  in  them. 
The  faithful  examination  of  the  schools,  which  is  the 
most  important  duty  of  the  District  and  Standing 
Committee,  absolutely  requires  the  strictest  uniform 
ity  ;  without  it  it  is  impossible  to  form  any  just  or 
satisfactory  comparison  of  their  condition  or  progress. 
Parents  and  the  whole  community,  moreover,  have  a 
right  to  know  what  is  to  be  taught ;  nor  can  the 
general  confidence,  so  essential  to  its  usefulness,  be 
expected  for  any  system  that  is  not  distinctly  under 
stood,  or  which  is  left  in  any  of  its  essential  parts, 
to  the  various  opinions,  taste  or  experience  of  the 
individuals  to  whom  may  be  entrusted  the  instruc 
tion  or  superintendence  of  them.  The  Committee 
also  suggest,  that  in  the  changes  and  improvements 
which  may  be  adopted,  reference  should  ever  be  had 


132  ANNALS   OF  THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

to  the  primary  object  for  which  these  schools  were 
established  —  the  preparation  of  the  pupils  for  the  Gram 
mar  Schools.  Nor  should  it  be  overlooked,  that  as 
no  inconsiderable  proportion  of  the  children  are  of 
families  in  the  poorer  classes,  unless  public  provision 
be  made  for  their  supply,  frequent  changes  or  the 
introduction  of  new  studies,  requiring  many  books, 
will  be  found  inconvenient  and  burdensome." 

The  Secretary  of  the  Board  and  Messrs.  Pray  and 
Grant  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  revise  the  list 
of  the  organization  of  the  Primary  Board.  Rev.  ASA 
RAND  and  GEORGE  A.  SAMPSON  were  nominated  to  fill 
the  vacancies  in  the  Standing  Committee,  occasioned 
by  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Spooner,  who  had  removed 
from  the  city,  and  the  election  of  Dr.  J.  \V.  McKean 
to  the  General  School  Committee. 

JANUARY  17.  The  Board  having  been  notified  of 
their  appointment,  proceeded  to  organize  for  the 
ensuing  year,  by  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  follow 
ing  officers  and  Committee: 

Chairman  —  MOSES  GRANT. 

.Secretary  —  FREDERIC  T.  GRAY. 

Standing  Committee  —  Francis  Parkman,  Chairman ; 
Lewis%G.  Pray,  Secretary  ;  George  B.  Emerson,  Chandler 
Robbins,  John  P.  Bigelow,  Daniel  Henchman,  Charles 
Walker,  D.  II  Storer. 

In  the  Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  allusion  was  made  to  the  severity  of  the 
winter,  and  the  unprecedented  price  of  wood,  which 
subjected  the  instructors  to  a  heavy  tax  in  supply 
ing  their  schools  with  fuel,  and  recommended  that 


ANNALS   OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  133 

application  be  made  to  the  City  Government  for 
relief.  After  some  discussion,  it  was  unanimously 
"Voted,  That  the  Chairman  and  Secretary  be  a  Com 
mittee  to  present  a  memorial  to  the  city  authorities, 
petitioning  that  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  be  appropriated 
to  each  of  the  instructors  of  the  several  schools  for 
the  purchase  of  wood."  This  petition  was  presented 
to  the  City  Council,  February  23,  and  an  order  was 
passed  by  the  Common  Council,  March  8,  making  the 
appropriation.  In  the  following  November,  another 
application  was  made  to  the  City  Government,  to 
make  an  annual  appropriation  of  $14  for  fuel  for 
each  of  the  schools,  to  be  expended  under  the  direc 
tion  of  the  several  District  Committees.  This  was 
committed  to  a  Joint  Committee,  of  which  Alderman 
HENRY  J.  OLIVER  was  Chairman,  who  reported,  Decem 
ber  6th,  "That  the  prayer  of  the  memorialists  appears 
to  be  reasonable,  and  that  the  public  interests  would 
be  promoted,  by  yielding  to  the  request  therein  con 
tained;  and  they  recommend  the  passage  of  the  fol 
lowing  order:" 

Ordered,  That  there  be  allowed  to  each  of  the  Primary 
School  teachers,  in  addition  to  their  salary,  a  sum  not  ex 
ceeding  $14,  to  be  expended  by  them  under  the  direction 
of  the  several  District  Committees  for  fuel  for  the  current 
year. 

The  Mayor  and  Aldermen  passed  the  order  after 
substituting  $10,  instead  of  $14,  in  which  the  Coun 
cil  refused  to  concur,  but  subsequently  receded,  and 
passed  the  order  as  amended.  This  annual  appropri 
ation  was  eventually  superseded  by  the  city  supply- 


134  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

ing  the  fuel,  through  the  "  Joint  Standing  Committee 
on   Fuel." 

The  Standing  Committee  voted  that  the  following, 
among  other  inquiries  and  duties,  should  be  embraced 
in  the  Semi- Annual  examination  in  April: 

The  moral  character  of  the  school;  the  record  book 
examined,  and  the  number  of  examinations  made  by  the 
District  Committee  the  last  six  months,  and  by  whom; 
whether  the  children  are  properly  supplied  with  books;  if 
explanations  are  given  of  the  lessons,  and  questions  asked; 
obtain  the  written  answer  to  the  circular,  as  to  the  methods 
of  teaching  the  alphabet,  for  the  information  of  the  Sub- 
Committee  on  that  subject;  whether  the  room  is  venti 
lated,  and  how;  if  the  teachers  are  in  the  habit  of  obtaining 
leave  to  close  their  schools  on  Training  days,  or  other 
casual  holidays,  and  how  many  instances  have  occurred  the 
past  year.  The  Secretary  (Mr.  Pray)  and  Mr.  G.  B.  Emer 
son  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  and  forward 
a  circular  to  each  of  the  teachers,  to  ascertain  their  respect 
ive  modes  of  teaching  the  alphabet ;  the  answers  to  be  ready, 
in  writing,  for  the  Examining  Committee. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  April  24, 
Mr.  Grant,  the  Chairman  of  the  Board,  informed  the 
Committee  that  he  had  received  from  Noah  Webster, 
Esq.,  a  gift  to  the  Primary  Schools,  of  more  than  one 
hundred  copies  of  a  book  entitled,  "  Biography,  for  the 
Use  of  Schools,"  the  author  of  which  is  the  donor; 
whereupon  it  was  "  Voted,  That  the  Secretary  be  a  Com 
mittee  to  examine  the  book,  and  to  report  upon  the 
disposition  which  should  be  made  of  the  same."  The 
letters  from  the  teachers  on  the  subject  of  teaching 
the  alphabet,  were  referred  to  the  Secretary  and  Mr. 
Emerson  to  consider  and  report. 


ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  135 

At  an  adjourned  meeting,  April  30,  the  Secretary 
made  a  report  on  the  book  referred  to  him,  stating 
objections  to  it,  on  account  of  the  sectarian  views 
expressed  by  the  author,  which,  by  the  rules  of  the 
Board,  would  render  it  inadmissible  for  distribution 
among  the  schools.  The  report  was  accepted,  and 
Dr.  CHARLES  WALKER  was  requested  to  notice  the  gift, 
and  the  cause  of  its  rejection,  and  also  to  notice  in 
his  report  to  the  Board,  the  deficiency  of  the  binding 
of  the  books  used  in  the  Primary  Schools,  and  suggest 
that  means  be  taken  to  obtain  a  remedy.  At  a  subse 
quent  meeting,  Messrs.  Bobbins  and  Sampson  were 
appointed  a  Committee  to  advise  with  the  publisher 
of  the  books,  and  obtain,  if  possible,  more  attention 
to  the  binding  of  the  same.  From  the  abstract  and 
report  of  the  Semi- Annual  Examination,  by  Dr.  Walker, 
it  appears  that  there  were  63  Primary  Schools  in  the 
city,  containing  3,927  pupils-  averaging  62  to  a  school. 
Three  new  schools  were  established  during  the  past 
year,  with  109  pupils. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board,  May  1,  the 
Bule  was  changed,  by  which  the  Chairman  or  Secre 
tary  of  each  District  was  required  to  receive  the  sal 
aries  of  the  instructors ;  and  the  teachers  were  "  re 
quired  to  present  their  bills,  quarterly,  to  the  City 
Auditor,  made  on  the  printed  forms,  provided  for  that 
purpose,  and  approved  by  the  Chairman  or  Secretary 
of  the  District  Committee." 

Mr.  Pray  submitted  several  votes,  by  which  the  Dis 
trict  Committees  were  relieved  of  the  labor  of  prepar 
ing  monthly  reports ;  and  in  lieu  thereof,  were  required 
to  prepare  a  tabular  abstract  from  the  teacher's  reports, 


136  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

and  forward  them  to  the  Standing  Committee  during 
the  first  weeks  of  January  and  July.  Also,  requiring 
"  each  instructor,  on  the  last  days  of  June  and  Decem 
ber,  to  make  returns  to  their  District  Committees, 
agreeably  to  the  blanks  furnished  by  the  Board,  in 
which  they  shall  state,  with  precision  and  accuracy, 
the  number  of  examinations  and  visits  made  to  their 
schools,  discriminating  between  the  two,  and  by  whom 
made;  the  number  of  pupils  admitted,  left,  and  be 
longing  to  the  school;  the  average  attendance  and 
absence  during  the  previous  six  months ;  the  number 
sent  to  the  Grammar  Schools;  with  such  remarks 
on  the  condition  and  wants  of  their  schools  as  they 
may  consider  interesting  and  important."  These  votes 
were  unanimously  adopted,  and  the  Standing  Com 
mittee  were  directed  to  have  the  proper  blanks  pre 
pared.  This  arrangement  was  very  judicious;  and  as 
it  was  continued  during  the  existence  of  the  Board, 
a  large  amount  of  valuable  statistical  information  in 
relation  to  these  schools  is  thus  placed  in  a  perma 
nent  form. 

1833. 

As  the  schools  increased,  the  necessity  of  a  strict 
uniformity  in  the  books,  studies  and  other  matters 
pertaining  to  the  schools,  became  more  and  more 
apparent.  This  subject  had  been  especially  alluded 
to  in  the  report  of  the  Standing  Committee  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year,  and  the  sentiments  therein 
expressed  had  been  concurred  in  with  great  unanimity 
by  the  Board.  From  the  number  of  new  members, 
which  were  continually  being  added  to  the  Board,  it 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  137 

is  not  surprising  that  there  should  have  been  occasional 
infractions  of  the  rules  in  respect  to  books  or  studies, 
which,  at  the  request  of  a  publisher,  author  or  teacher, 
were  inconsiderately  introduced,  by  permission  of  a 
Local  Committee,  into  his  school.  The  confusion  which 
would  ensue  from  the  exercise  of  any  such  power, 
by  the  different  Local  or  District  Committees,  rendered 
the  Standing  Committee  peculiarly  sensitive  upon  this 
point;  and  whenever  an  instance  came  to  their  knowl 
edge,  their  admonitions  were  promptly  given,  and 
were  generally  received  with  courtesy  and  cheerfully 
corrected. 

At  this  time,  however,  an  instance  occurred,  in  which 
a  district  assumed  the  responsibility  of  introducing  cer 
tain  books  and  apparatus  into  the  schools  in  their  dis 
trict,  and  refused  to  recognize  the  propriety  of  any 
interference  by  the  Standing  Committee,  with  what 
they  regarded  as  their  prerogative.  Under  these  cir 
cumstances,  the  Standing  Committee  held  a  special 
meeting  on  the  evening  of  January  10,  1833,  and 
appointed  Dr.  Charles  Walker  and  Lewis  G.  Pray  a 
Committee  to  confer  with  the  Committee  of  the  Dis 
trict  upon  this  subject,  and  if  necessary  to  call  a  special 
meeting  of  the  whole  Board,  and  lay  the  case  before 
them  for  their  decision.  The  result  of  the  conference 
not  being  satisfactory,  a  meeting  of  the  Board  was 
( accordingly  held,  by  order  of  the  Standing  Committee, 
on  the  evening  of  January  18,  when  they  made  the 
following  statement : 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  Primary 
Schools,  held  on  the  evening  of  Jan.  10,  at  the  house   of  the 

18 


138  ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

Chairman,  to  consider  some  complaints  which  had  been  made 
to  different  members  of  the  Committee,  of  an  alleged  viola 
tion  of  the  Rules  relating  to  the  course  of  instruction  pre 
scribed  for  the  Primary  Schools,  after  the  subject  had  been 
considered,  it  was  Voted,  unanimously,  that,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  Committee,  there  had  been  a  violation  of  the  Rules,  which 
violation  was  of  sufficient  importance  to  make  it  the  duty  of 
the  Standing  Committee  to  call  a  special  meeting  of  the 
whole  Board  to  consider  the  subject,  unless  measures  were 
taken  by  the  Committee  of  District  No.  6  to  have  the  causes 
of  complaint  removed.  A  Sub-Committee  was  appointed  to 
bring  the  matter  before  the  Board,  provided  a  special  meeting 
was  held ;  in  the  discharge  of  which  duty  that  Sub-Committee 
would  offer  this  statement :  — 

Representations  having  been  made  to  members  of  the 
Standing  Committee,  that  the  regularly  prescribed  course  of 
instruction  had  been  departed  from  in  some  of  the  schools  in 
District  No.  6  at  the  instigation  of  a  member  lately  elected 
to  that  district,  and  it  appearing  that  there  was  danger,  if 
permitted  to  continue  without  any  notice  having  been  taken 
of  it,  that  it  would  lead  to  very  serious  difficulties,  it  was 
thought  to  be  a  part  of  their  duty  to  make  inquiries,  and  find 
out  precisely  how  far  these  complaints  were  founded  in  truth. 
They  consequently  called  at  the  several  schools  in  the  dis 
trict,  and  made  inquiries  of  the  teachers  on  these  points ; 
from  which  visits  they  ascertained  that  the  regularly  pre 
scribed  course  of  instruction  had  been  departed  from  in  three 
or  four  of  the  schools  —  in  some  to  a  greater,  and  in  some  to 
a  less  extent. 

In  School  No.  8,  Peter  Parley's  Geography,  with  Maps  and 
a  Globe,  had  been  introduced ;  also  Geometrical  cards  and 
models  of  various  figures.  The  Geography  was  used  as  an 
occasional  reading  book  by  the  children;  and  the  other 
things  were  also  used  by  the  teacher.  In  three  other  schools, 
more  or  less  of  the  same  things  had  been  introduced.  It  ap- 


ANNALS  OF  THE  PRB1ARY  SCHOOLS.         139 

pearcd  further,  that,  all  of  them  had  been  given  to  the  schools, 
though,  in  some  cases,  the  parents  had  been  requested  to 
purchase  the  Geography  for  their  children. 

It  also  appeared  that  the  gentleman  elected  at  the  last 
quarterly  meeting  to  take  charge  of  School  No.  8,  District 
No.  6,  had  been  the  cause  of  the  introduction  of  those  studies. 
The  Committee  consider  these  acts  as  violations  of  Rule  1, 
Sect,  iv.,  which  says  that,  "  The  instructors  are  to  teach  their 
pupils  agreeably  to  the  course  of  instruction  hereinafter  pre 
scribed  ;  "  and  also  of  Rule  6,  Sect,  iv.,  which  says,  "  The 
instructors  are  forbidden  to  permit  any  tracts  or  other  pub 
lications  to  be  distributed  in  their  schools ; "  also,  of  the 
circular  dated  April  20,  1830,  which  directs  the  instructors  to 
conform  strictly  to  the  hours  for  beginning  and  closing  the 
schools,  specified  in  the  Rules  and  Regulations,  and  also  to 
the  course  of  instruction  therein  laid  down  for  the  several 
classes  of  children  under  their  care. 

From  a  careful  examination  of  the  Rules  and  Regulations 
of  the  Board,  the  Committee  are  at  a  loss  to  discover  where 
the  authority  has  been  obtained  to  introduce  new  subjects  of 
study.  They  had  supposed  that  the  regular  way  of  accom 
plishing  this  object  was  to  introduce  the  subject  at  a  regular 
meeting  of  the  whole  Board,  and  if  it  was  there  approved 
of,  then  the  proposer  would  be  at  liberty  to  introduce  it,  but 
not  till  then.  They  do  not  think  that  it  is  proper  to  con 
sider  whether  these  things,  if  properly  introduced,  would  be 
likely  to  be  beneficial  to  the  schools  or  not ;  that  they  con 
ceive  will  be  a  proper  subject  for  consideration  when  it  is 
regularly  brought  before  them ;  neither  do  they  think  it  is 
material  whether  much  or  little  use  has  been  made  of  these 
things,  so  far.  They  think  the  question  is  simply  this  —  Has 
an  individual  member  of  this  Board,  or  any  District  Com 
mittee,  authority  to  make  such  alterations  in  the  course  of 
studies,  as  either  may  think  best?  Or,  have  either  the 


140  ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

authority  to  make  any  change  in  the  course  of  studies  pre 
scribed  by  the  whole  Board  ?  These  are  the  questions  which 
the  Committee  think  should  be  answered  at  this  time.  They 
believe  it  has  always  been  understood  by  the  Primary  School 
Committee,  that  the  whole  Board,  and  that  only,  should  decide 
on  the  course  of  instruction ;  and  it  appears  to  them  that  a 
little  reflection  must  satisfy  any  one  that  this  is  the  only  safe 
and  proper  course.  For  it  is  obvious,  that  if  one  has  the 
right  to  vary,  or  alter  the  course  of  instruction,  every  other 
one  has  the  same  right  j  and  this  being  once  conceded  in  a 
Board  constituted  as  this  is,  changing  from  month  to  month, 
we  should  be  liable  to  have  the  different  schools  managed  in 
as  many  different  ways  as  there  are  gentlemen  having  charge 
of  them ;  for  probably  every  one  would  think  that  he  could 
improve  his  school  in  some  particular. 

There  is  one  more  subject  which  the  Committee  think  calls 
for  the  action  of  this  Board.  They  have  learned  that  one 
or  more  of  the  teachers  consider  themselves  as  having  a  dis 
cretionary  power  to  make  use  of  such  books,  pamphlets, 
papers,  or  other  means  as  they  may  think  most  likely  to 
benefit  their  pupils. 

As  the  duty  of  the  Sub-Committee  is  simply  to  bring  these 
subjects  fairly  before  this  Board  for  their  consideration  and 
action,  they  abstain  from  going  into  any  argument  on  the 
general  merits  and  bearings  of  these  questions,  believing  that 
this  may  be  done  with  more  propriety  in  another  form. 

To  this  statement,  Mr.  Rand,  in  behalf  of  the  Com 
mittee  of  District  No.  6,  and  other  gentlemen  of  that 
district,  replied  that  the  Books,  Maps,  Globes,  &c.,  al 
luded  to,  were  not  introductions  oF  books  and  studies 
contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  Primary  Schools ;  they  were 
not  nciv  books  or  studies  substituted  for  the  old,  but  were 
introduced  to  illustrate  and  explain,  more  clearly,  those 


ANNALS    OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  141 

lessons  which  were  taught  in  the  books  prescribed  by 
the  Rules  of  the  Board ;  that  the  children  had  taken 
greater  interest  in  their  schools  since  this  mode  of 
illustration  was  adopted.  Mr.  Eand  also  read  the  report 
of  a  Sub-committee  of  District  No.  6,  which  substan 
tially  admitted  the  charges  made  by  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  in  which  they  maintain  that  the  books,  &c.,  were 
introduced  as  mere  aids  to  the  instructor,  and  that  they 
had  found  them  very  beneficial ;  that  the  District  had 
a  right  to  introduce  them  for  this  purpose  ;  and  that 
the  Standing  Committee,  by  their  interference,  had 
transcended  their  legitimate  powers  and  duties. 

After  much  discussion,  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
Tuesday  evening,  Jan.  22d,  when  the  question  was  again 
warmly  debated,  after  which  the  following  resolutions, 
proposed  by  the  Standing  Committee,  were  adopted :  — 

1.  That  neither  the  District  Committees,  nor  teachers  of 
the  Primary  Schools,  have   any  authority  to   introduce   new 
books,  studies  or  means  of  instruction,  into  their  respective 
schools  without  first  obtaining  for  the  same  the  approval  of 
this  Board. 

2.  That  this  Board  acknowledge  no  discretionary  power  in 
the  teachers  of  the  Primary  Schools  to  use,  or  permit  to  be 
used,  as  a  part  of  the  course  of  instruction,  any  books,  pam 
phlets,  newspapers,  or  other  publications,  or  means  of  instruc 
tion,  but  those  which  have  been  sanctioned  by  this  Board. 

3.  That   these  Resolutions   be  printed,  and  sent  to   each 
member    of  the   Committee    and   Instructor  connected  with 
these  schools,  to  the  end,  that  the  violation's  of  these  Rules,  to 
which  complaint  has  been  made,  may  be  forthwith  redressed, 
and  to  prevent  their  violation  in  future. 


142  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

By  this  action  of  the  Board,  the  conservatism  of  the 
Standing  Committee  was  fully  sustained,  which  is  a 
stronger  evidence  of  their  power  and  influence  than 
would  at  first  appear;  since  their  interference  in  the 
present  case  was  in  opposition  to  a  wide-spread  popular 
sentiment  in  favor  of  Oral  instruction.  At  this  period, 
the  "  Lyceum  System  "  was  in  the  full  tide  of  success 
ful  experiment.  This  was  peculiarly  a  New  England 
institution ;  and,  appealing  to  that  love  and  desire  for 
popular  education,  inherent  to  our  people,  the  idea  of 
an  association  for  mutual  improvement  by  the  dissemi 
nation  of  general  information  in  science  and  the  arts, 
was  responded  to  with  such  zeal  and  enthusiasm  that 
the  most  attractive  places  of  amusement  were  neglected, 
to  throng  the  various  lyceums  which  had  sprung  up 
as  if  by  the  waving  of  a  magic  wand,  in  the  cities, 
towns  and  villages  of  many  of  the  States.  The  excite 
ment  of  the  ball-room,  and  attraction  of  the  drama, 
paled  before  the  more  powerful  influence  of  the  lyceum 
lecture.  In  five  years  from  the  formation  of  the  first 
lyceum,  by  Mr.  JOSIAII  HOLBROOK  and  a  few  citizens 
of  Worcester  County,  Massachusetts,  in  1826,  the 
system  had  spread  through  all  the  various  forms  of 
society ;  and  in  1832-33,  the  number  of  institutions 
on  this  general  plan  in  the  several  States  appears 
almost  incredible.  Besides  the  lyceums  formed  in  the 
towns,  which  were  designated  usually  by  the  name 
of  the  town  in  which  they  were  located,  there  were 
the  National  Lyceum,  State  Lyceum,  County  Lyceum, 
Teachers'  Lyceum,  Fanners'  Lyceum,  Mechanics'  Ly 
ceum,  Seaman's  Lyceum,  Ladies'  Lyceum,  Mother's 
Lyceum,  Social  Lyceum,  Juvenile  Lyceum,  School 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  143 

Lyceum,  and  Family  Lyceum,  all  of  which  had  been 
formed  under  the  auspices  of  Mr.  Holbrook,  who  was 
the  indefatigable  promoter,  if  not  the  originator,  of 
the  system. 

It  was  under  these  circumstances  and  at  this  time, 
that  Mr.  Holbrook  was  admitted  a  member  of  District 
No.  6,  in  the  Boston  Primary  Schools;  and  it  is  not 
surprising  that  he  should  soon  have  attempted  to 
introduce  his  peculiar  ideas  and  system  of  lyceum 
education  into  the  Primary  Schools,  with  which  he 
was  particularly  connected.  Sanctioned  by  the  other 
members  of  his  own  District,  and  encouraged  by  the 
teachers,  who  were  undoubtedly  more  or  less  influenced 
by  the  popular  pressure  in  favor  of  the  system,  he 
presented  to  several  of  the  schools  a  variety  of  illus 
trative  apparatus,  and  introduced  and  encouraged  the 
children  to  obtain  some  of  the  interesting  works  of 
"  Peter  Parley,"  and  others.  Trifling  and  unobjection 
able  as  this  proceeding  appeared  to  be,  it  was,  never 
theless,  a  serious  innovation.  The  Primary  Schools 
were  established  for  elementary  instruction,  and  par 
ticularly  for  the  benefit  of  the  poorer  classes ;  the 
great  object  of  its  friends  was  to  make  the  expense 
as  reasonable  as  possible,  to  the  community  for  instruc 
tion,  and  to  the  parents  of  the  children  for  books.  It 
was  in  pursuance  of  these  ends  that  the  Standing  Com 
mittee  opposed  the  proceedings  in  the  schools  of  Dis 
trict  No.  6 ;  and  it  was  upon  this  ground  that  they 
were  sustained  by  the  whole  Board.  Like  other  enthu 
siasts,  Mr.  Holbrook  and  his  friends  attempted  to 
introduce  innovations,  without  a  due  regard  to  the 
consequences  and  effect  upon  the  schools,  as  a  whole, 


144  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

the  experience  of  the  past,  or  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  their  associates. 

The  lyceum  system  was,  and  has  proved,  a  boon 
of  great  value  in  elevating  the  intellectual  character 
and  tastes  of  our  people  ;  but  time  and  experience 
have  sanctioned  and  sustained  but  one  of  the  many 
classes  of  its  projector ;  and  a  few  town  lyceums  now 
remain  as  the  only  representatives  of  a  system  which, 
but  a  few  years  since,  was  deemed  so  potent  and  uni 
versal  as  a  means  of  education. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  the  School  Committee  hav 
ing  appointed  the  members  of  the  Primary  Board,  the 
quarterly  meeting  was  held,  and  the  Board  was  organ 
ized  for  the  ensuing  year : 

Chairman  —  MOSES  GRANT. 

Secretary  —  EDWARD  G.  DAVIS. 

Standing  Committee  —  Rev.  F.  Parkman,  Chairman; 
Lewis  G.  Pray,  Secretary;  John  P.  Bigelow,  Charles 
Walker,  George  \V.  Otis,  Rev.  Asa  Rand,  Charles 
Choate,  George  A.  Sampson. 

The  Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  State  of  the  Schools, 
founded  on  the  returns  of  the  District  Committees,  was 
read  by  Rev.  Dr.  PARKMAN,  and  accepted. 

Mr.  George  H.  Snelling,  after  some  explanation, 
submitted  the  following  vote :  "  That  each  District 
Committee  be  allowed  to  select  one  school  in  their 
District,  in  which  new  methods  of  instruction  may  be 
experimentally  introduced ;  provided,  however,  that 
the  prescribed  studies  of  the  school  be  in  no  degree 
neglected  for  such  object,  nor  the  prescribed  hours 
exceeded."  After  some  remarks  of  Mr.  Pray  on  the 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  145 

difficulty  of  carrying  out   any  such   arrangement   of 
the  schools,  the  motion  was  laid  upon  the  table. 

Mr.  Clement  Durgin,  of  District  No.  6,  asked  leave 
of  the  Board  to  introduce,  at  his  own  expense,  in 
school  No.  2  in  that  District,  certain  articles  for  the 
purpose  of  instruction,  viz. :  "  a  Blackboard,  a  number 
of  Slates  and  Pencils,  and  some  forms  suitable  for 
children  to  write  at,  on  the  Slate."  Unexceptionable 
as  this  application  appeared,  the  Board  refused  to 
grant  it,  without  considering  its  effect  upon  other 
schools,  and  it  was  accordingly  laid  upon  the  table. 

Messrs.  Davis,  Eand,  Pray,  Marvin,  and  Snelling, 
"were  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  the  expe 
diency  of  compiling  or  recommending  a  new  book 
for  the  use  of  the  First  Class,  to  be  used  in  connec 
tion  with  the  New  Testament." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  April 
30,  the  reports  of  the  Semi- Annual  examination  were 
committed  to  Dr.  CHARLES  CHOATE,  to  make  an  abstract 
for  the  use  of  the  whole  Board.  He  was  also  directed 
to  call  the  attention  of  the  Board  to  the  subject  of 
physical  instruction,  and  to  state  the  results  of  the 
inquiries  as  to  the  time  requisite  to  teach  the  alphabet 
in  the  Primary  Schools. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  a  petition  was  presented  to 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  by  the  citizens  residing  on  the 
Mill  Dam,  for  a  school  to  be  located  on  that  avenue, 
which  was  transmitted  to  the  Standing  Committee 
of  the  Primary  Schools,  and  by  them  referred  to 
Messrs.  Pray  and  Otis  to  consider  and  report.  At 
the  next  meeting,  May  6,  the  Committee  reported, 
recommending  "that  $125  per  annum  should  be 


19 


146  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

allowed  for  a  school  upon  the  Mill  Dam,  which  school 
should  be  placed  under  the  management  of  a  Local 
Committee,  resident  upon  the  Mill  Dam ;  this  Com 
mittee  to  be  appointed  by  the  Standing  Committee, 
and  the  instructor  to  be  approved  by  them.  The 
school,  in  other  respects,  to  be  managed  in  the  same 
manner  as  other  Primary  Schools,  excepting  that  the 
Local  Committee  shall  have  the  power  to  retain  chil 
dren  over  seven  years  of  age,  and  advance  them  in 
their  studies,  according  to  the  Rules  and  Regulations 
of  the  Grammar  Schools."  This  report  was  read  to 
the  whole  Board  at  the  quarterly  meeting,  May  7, 
and  accepted ;  and  the  Standing  Committee  was 
directed  to  organize  the  school,  in  conformity  writh 
the  plan  proposed.  The  school  wras  accordingly  estab 
lished,  and  Messrs.  Samuel  Fowle,  Benjamin  Simmons, 
and  Joshua  Seaver,  Jr.,  were  appointed  a  Committee 
to  take  charge  of  the  same. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Pray,  the  Board  appointed  a 
Committee  of  eleven,  viz. :  Messrs.  Pray,  Choate,  Sum- 
ner,  Ilobart,  Marvin,  Snelling,  Loring,  Stebbins,  Walker, 
Ingraham,  and  Durgin,  "to  consider  whether  any  and 
what  improvements,  in  regard  to  physical  education, 
means  of  instruction,  or  books  for  study,  can  be  made 
in  the  Primary  Schools." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  July  30, 
a  note  was  received  from  Rev.  Dr.  PARKMAN,  resigning 
his  place  as  a  member  of  the  Committee ;  and  "  the 
Secretary  was  directed  to  offer  him  the  thanks  of  the 
Standing  Committee,  for  the  faithful  and  courteous 
manner  in  which  he  had  discharged  the  duties  of  mem 
ber  and  Chairman  of  this  Committee."  The  Commit- 


ANNALS    OP   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  147 

tee  then  proceeded  to  ballot  for  a  Chairman,  and  made 
choice  of  Mr.  LEWIS  G.  PRAY.  Messrs.  Pray  and  Walker 
were  then  appointed  a  Committee  to  select  a  candidate 
to  supply  the  place  of  Mr.  Parkman,  and  they  reported 
in  favor  of  Mr.  THEOPHILUS  R.  MARVIN  being  nominated 
to  the  whole  Board. 

AUGUST  6.  Quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board.  Mr. 
Marvin  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  Standing 
Committee,  caused  by  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Park  man ;  and  the  following  vote  was  unanimously 
passed  by  the  Board ;  "  Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  this 
Board  be  presented  to  the  Rev.  Francis  Parkman,  for 
his  faithful,  efficient,  and  very  acceptable  services,  both 
as  a  member  of  this  Board,  and  of  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  continued  as  they  have  been  through  many 
years;  and  that  a  copy  of  this  vote  be  presented  to 
him  by  the  Secretary,  as  an  expression  of  our  regret 
at  his  retirement  from  the  Board." 

The  Committee  appointed,  February  5,  on  the  sub 
ject  of  a  Reading  Book  for  the  First  Class,  reported 
in  favor  of  "  The  First  Reader,"  compiled  by  Rev.  John 
L.  Blake.  The  subject  was  recommitted  to  the  same 
Committee,  with  instructions  to  make  inquiries  respect 
ing  the  price  at  which  the  work  could  be  furnished,  the 
manner  of  binding,  &c.  The  Committee  were  also 
directed  to  furnish  each  member  of  the  Board  with  a 
copy  of  "  Blake's  First  Reader "  for  examination,  and 
also  a  copy  of  "  Pierpont's  Young  Reader." 

Messrs.  J.  W.  Ingraham,  A.  A.  Gould,  and  L.  S.  Cragin 
were  appointed  a  Committee  "to  have  the  Primary 
School  papers  duly  filed  and  arranged  in  such  order 
as  to  be  conveniently  consulted." 


148  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

The  following  recommendation,  by  the  Standing 
Committee,  was  adopted  by  tbe  Board :  "  In  future, 
all  children  requesting  permits  of  admission  to  the 
Primary  Schools,  shall  be  required  to  produce  a 
certificate  from  a  physician,  of  their  having  been 
vaccinated." 

An  order  was  also  made  known  to  the  Board,  as 
adopted  by  the  General  School  Committee,  whereby 
"  all  children  over  eight  years  of  age,  who  are  not  quali 
fied  by  their  attainments,  shall  be  admitted  into  the 
Grammar  Schools ;  provided  that  their  parents  or  guar 
dians  shall  first  obtain  permission  of  the  Sub-Commit 
tee  of  the  school  where  it  is  proposed  they  shall  be 
admitted." 

NOVEMBER  5.  Quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board.  The 
Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  Standing  Committee  was 
read  by  Mr.  T.  R.  MARVIN,  and  accepted. 

A  communication  was  received  from  Mr.  Mulkey, 
teacher  of  a  new  system  of  Orthoepy,  requesting  per 
mission  to  make  trial  of  his  system  in  one  of  the  Pri 
mary  Schools,  and  referred  to  Messrs.  Ingraham,  Gore, 
Brown,  Otis,  Marvin,  Gulliver,  Loring,  Stimpson,  Pray, 
and  Walker,  with  instructions  to  report  at  an  adjourned 
meeting. 

The  salary  of  the  teacher  of  the  Mill  Dam  school 
was  raised  to  the  same  sum  as  that  of  the  other  Pri 
mary  School  teachers. 

The  report  of  the  Committee,  recommending  Blake's 
"First  Reader"  as  a  First  Class  Book,  was  accepted; 
and  the  Secretary  was  u  directed  to  inform  the  publish 
ers  of  the  work  of  its  adoption,  and  propose  to  them  to 
reduce  the  price  to  §1.75  per  dozen  for  such  a  number 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  149 

as  may  be  wanted  for  immediate  supply;"  and  also 
"to  inform  the  publishers  that  the  same  will  be  re 
tained  in  the  schools  only  so  long  as  the  Board  shall 
deem  it  expedient." 

The  Committee  on  the  subject  of  improvement,  ap 
pointed  May  7,  made  a  report,  and  recommended  the 
adoption  of  the  following  Resolutions  : 

1.  That  the  district  committees  and  instructors  of  all  the 
Primary  Schools,  jointly  and    severally,  be  directed    to  have 
the  seats  of  their  respective  schools  so  arranged  as  to  secure 
the  greatest  amount  of  support  and  comfort  of  position   to 
the  greatest  number  of  their  scholars. 

2.  That  the  following  be  adopted  as  Rule  10,  Sect,  v.,  of 
the   Rules   and   Regulations.      It   shall   be   the  duty   of  the 
instructors  to  attend  to  the   physical  comfort  and  education 
of  the  pupils  under  their  care ;  and  to  this  end,  the  ordinary 
duties  and  exercises  of  the   schools  shall  be  suspended  for  a 
portion  of  time  not  exceeding  fifteen  minutes  each  part  of  the 
day.     This  time  shall  be  taken  together,  or  divided,  at  the 
discretion    of  the   teacher;    and    occupied  according  to  the 
state  of  the  weather,  the  season  of  the  year,  and  the  situation 
and  convenience  of  the  school-room ;  and  in  such  manner  as 
each  instructor  shall  judge  best  adapted  to  relieve  weariness, 
strengthen  the  physical  constitution,  excite   a  love  of  order, 
and  associate  with  the  school  ideas  of  cheerfulness  as  well  as 
improvement. 

3.  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  prepare   a  card,  or 
cards,  on  the  principles  of  this  report,  for  the  use  of  the  4th 
class. 

4.  That  the  schools  be  furnished  with  a  sufficient  number 
of  slates  and  pencils  for  the  use  of  the  4th  class. 

5.  That  the  study  of  Arithmetic  be  introduced  in  all  the 
classes  as  a  part  of  the  course  of  instruction. 


150  ANNALS   OP  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

All  the  foregoing  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the 
Board,  and  ordered  to  be  incorporated  into  the  Rules 
and  Regulations. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Board,  November 
12,  Mr.  T.  R.  MARVIN,  from  the  Committee  on  the  re 
quest  of  Mr.  Mulkey,  read  a  report,  recommending 
"  that  the  same  be  granted,  under  the  direction  and 
supervision  of  a  Committee  of  three  persons,  to  be 
appointed  by  the  Board."  This  report  was  accepted, 
and  Messrs.  Marvin,  Pray  and  Walker  were  chosen 
as  the  Committee.  . 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Pray,  the  Secretary  was  directed 
to  purchase  a  sufficient  number  of  slates  and  pencils, 
and  have  the  following  Orders  printed  and  sent  to  each 
of  the  Committee  and  instructors : 

Ordered,  That  the  fourth  classes  in  the  Primary  Schools  be 
hereafter  furnished  with  slates  and  pencils  (which  may  be 
procured  on  account  of  the  City  at  the  bookstore  of  Mr. 
Samuel  G.  Simpkins,  No.  79  Court  Street),  and  when  not  en 
gaged  in  the  study  or  recitation  of  their  lessons,  be  employed 
in  using  them  to  imitate  some  mark,  letter,  or  other  object 
placed  thereon,  or  in  copying  from  a  card  suspended  before 
them  for  the  purpose. 

Ordered,  That  Numeration,  or  counting  1  to  100,  be  taught 
to  the  fourth  class ;  the  combination  of  these  numbers,  so  as 
readily  to  find  the  page  in  any  book,  to  the  second  division, 
third  class ;  that  the  arithmetical  tables  be  commenced  in  the 
first  division,  third  class ;  that  the  same  be  completed,  and 
the  study  of  the  rules  and  examples  begun,  in  the  second 
class ;  and  that  the  study  of  the  "  North  American  Arith 
metic  "  be  completed  by  the  pupils  in  the  first  class,  before 
receiving  a  ticket  of  admission  to  the  Grammar  Schools. 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  151 

Under  the  Kesolutions  adopted  on  the  5th  of  Novem 
ber,  and  the  foregoing  Orders,  measures  were  effectually 
introduced  for  promoting  the  health  and  comfort  of 
the  children,  and  for  systematizing  the  study  of  arith 
metic,  which  had  been  heretofore  almost  entirely  at 
the  discretion  of  the  teacher. 

The  Secretary  submitted  an  offer  from  Messrs.  Kus- 
sell,  Odiorne  &  Co.,  to  furnish  u  Blake's  Keader  "  in  any 
quantity  to  the  Primary  Schools  at  $2  per  dozen,  which 
was  accepted  by  the  Board. 

The  necessity  of  having  something  done  in  relation 
to  school-rooms,  became  more  and  more  apparent; 
and,  notwithstanding  the  ill  success  of  previous  efforts, 
the  subject  was  again  brought  before  the  Board  at 
their  quarterly  meeting,  August  6,*  when,  on  motion 
of  Dr.  Walker,  Messrs.  Walker,  Choate,  Ingraham,  Pal 
frey,  Sumner,  Marvin,  Hartshorn,  Snelling,  Hatch,  and 
Stebbins,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  make  appli 
cation  to  the  City  Government  "for  an  appropriation 
of  money  for  the  purpose  of  building  and  furnishing 
suitable  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Primary 
Schools,  whenever  suitable  opportunities  may  offer  in 
any  of  the  Districts." 

This  Committee,  by  a  Sub-Committee,  presented  their 

*  This  movement,  which  resulted  in  a  successful  application  to  the  City 
Government,  is  due  to  Mr.  T.  R.  Marvin,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Com 
mittee,  appointed  May  6,  in  "  regard  to  the  improvements  in  education  in  the 
Primary  Schools."  This  Committee  met  May  7th,  and  after  they  had  fin 
ished  their  business,  a  conversation  took  place  on  the  subject  of  school  houses, 
when  Mr.  Marvin  proposed  that  a  new  effort  should  be  made  to  prevail  upon 
the  City  Government  to  do  something  in  the  matter.  His  views  were  advo 
cated  by  Dr.  Walker  and  Mr.  Ingraham,  and  resulted  in  a  determination  to 
again  bring  the  subject  to  the  attention  of  the  Board. 


152  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

application  in  behalf  of  the  Board,  to  the  City  Council, 
and  the  subject  was  referred  to  the  Joint  Committee  on 
Public  Instruction,  August  22,  1833.  On  the  14th  of 
November,  a  report  was  made  by  the  Mayor,  Hon. 
CHARLES  WELLS,  as  Chairman  of  the  "  Joint  Standing 
Committee  on  Public  Instruction,"  in  which  he  states, 
"  That  the  Primary  Schools  of  the  City  have  been  con 
ducted  so  judiciously  by  the  several  Committees,  under 
whose  superintendence  they  have  been  placed,  and  the 
teachers  have  discharged  their  duty  with  so  much  abil 
ity,  that  these  schools  have  been  a  prominent  part  of 
our  School  System,  and  will,  undoubtedly,  always  be 
supported  at  the  expense  of  the  public.  The  experi 
ment  has  exceeded  the  most  sanguine  expectations 
of  its  warmest  advocates,  and  its  permanency,  as  a 
part  of  our  Public  School  education,  is  firmly  estab 
lished.  Under  these  circumstances,  it  appears  to  your 
Committee  that  such  rooms  as  are  not  occupied  in  the 
lower  story  of  the  Grammar  School-houses,  as  will  be 
convenient  for  Primary  Schools,  ought  to  be  appropri 
ated  to  their  use." 

"  And  at  the  next  annual  appropriation,  the  sum  of 
§  10,000  should  be  applied  to  the  purchase  of  land  and 
the  erecting  of  buildings  for  the  same  object ;  this  sum 
will  be  sufficient  to  provide  six  buildings,  (including  the 
land,)  which  may  be  so  constructed  as  to  accommodate 
two  schools  in  each  building ;  and  should  this  course  be 
adopted  the  ensuing  year,  and  repeated  for  the  next 
four  years,  at  that  period  the  city  will  own  a  sufficient 
number  of  buildings  to  accommodate  all  the  Primary 
Schools." 

This  report  was  read  and  accepted  by  both  branches 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  153 

of  the  City  Government,  November  14,  1833 ;  and  in 
the  next  annual  appropriation  in  May,  1834,  $12,500 
was  appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  land  and  the  erec 
tion  of  Primary  School-houses.  At  this  time  there  were 
sixty-four  schools,  all  of  which  were  held  in  hired 
rooms.  The  first  Primary  School-house  was  erected  in 
South  Margin  Street  in  1834  ;*  it  was  built  of  wood 
and  brick,  two  stories  in  height,  and  adapted  for  two 
schools.  The  cost  of  it  was  $2,528  69,  exclusive  of  the 
land.  In  pursuance  of  the  policy  thus  decided  upon  by 
the  City  Government,  four  more  schools  were  built 
during  the  ensuing  year,  1835-36.  They  were  located 
on  North  Margin  Street,  Tileston  Street,  Castle  Street, 
and  Purchase  Place.  Each  of  these  were  adapted  for 
two  schools,  and  the  cost  of  the  whole  was  about 
$12,500,  of  which  sum  about  $4,000  was  paid  for  the 
land.  From  this  time  the  City  Government  have  con 
tinued  to  make  annual  appropriations  for  this  object; 
and  in  1854  there  were  fifty-two  Primary  School-houses 
owned  by  the  city,  in  which  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  schools  were  located. 


1834. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Primary  School  Board,  after 
their  appointment,  was  held  February  4,  at  which  they 
proceeded  to  organize  the  Board  as  follows.  The 

*It  is  proper  to  mention,  that  in  1830-31,  a  small  school-house,  -with  one 
room,  was  built  by  the  city,  on  the  "  Western  Avenue,"  at  a  cost  of  $468  ; 
but  this  was  not  strictly  a  Primary  School,  as  Grammar  School  studies  were 
taught,  as  well  as  the  Primary.  In  1832,  a  small  building  was  purchased  on 
the  "  Neck,"  and  fitted  up  for  a  Primary  School. 
20 


154         ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS. 

Chairman  (MosES  GRANT,  Esq.,)  having  declined  a 
reelection. 

Chairman  —  LEWIS  G.  PRAY. 

Secretary  —  EDWARD  G.  DAVIS. 

Standing  Committee  —  Chas.  Walker,  Chairman  ;  Geo. 
W.  Otis,  Jr.,  Secretary;  George  A.  Sampson,  Charles 
Choate,  Theophilus  E.  Marvin,  Samuel  Tenney,  Lewis 
G.  Pray,  John  P.  Bigelow. 

Committee  of  Conference  —  Messrs.  Walker,  Marvin  and 
Davis. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Hatch,  it  was  unanimously  "  Voted, 
That  the  thanks  of  this  Board  be  presented  to  Moses 
Grant,  Esq.,  for  his  able  and  faithful  services  as  Chair 
man,  and  for  the  continued  interest  he  has  manifested 
in  the  welfare  of  the  schools  connected  with  this 
Board." 

Formal,  and  in  accordance  with  custom,  as  this  vote 
may  appear,  yet  probably  no  tribute  of  the  kind  was 
ever  passed  in  this  Board,  if  in  any  other,  which  was 
more  deserved.  Living  as  he  now  is  in  our  midst, 
and  with  head  and  heart  engaged,  as  ever,  in  the  active 
duties  of  philanthropy  and  benevolence,  we  feel  obliged 
to  refrain  from  speaking  of  his  public  labors  as  they 
merit ;  but  we  deem  it  our  province  and  duty  to  place, 
on  this  humble  record,  the  evidence  of  his  unremitting 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  Primary  Schools. 

Deacon  GRANT,  was  one  of  the  active  friends,  and 
original  petitioners  for  this  class  of  schools,  —  he  was 
a  member  of  the  first  Primary  School  Committee  ap 
pointed  in  1818,  —  and  a  member  of  the  Standing 
Committee  from  its  first  organization  in  1820,  until 
1834.  From  March,  1820,  to  January,  1830,  he  was 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  155 

Secretary  of  the  Standing  Committee,  and  was  present 
at  all  but  five  of  the  regular  monthly,  and  adjourned 
meetings,  during  the  whole  of  that  time.  From  Feb 
ruary,  1830,  until  1834,  he  was  Chairman  of  the  whole 
Board,  and  ex  officio  member  of  the  Standing  Com 
mittee.  In  addition  to  all  this,  his  official  position  as 
Secretary  of  the  Standing  Committee,  caused  him  to 
be  placed  on  almost  every  sub-committee  which  was 
appointed,  during  his  term  of  office.  His  labors  were 
arduous,  but  by  his  prompt  attendance,  and  systematic 
discharge  of  his  various  duties,  none  were  neglected; 
and  while  he  commanded  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
his  associates,  his  long  experience  and  calm  judgment 
rendered  his  services  invaluable  to  the  schools.  Such 
a  record  is  honorable  to  him  as  a  good  citizen,  and 
worthy  of  the  self-sacrificing  spirit  of  the  Patriot  and 
the  Christian. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Board,  a  Standing  Com 
mittee  on  school-rooms  was  elected,  consisting  of  one 
member  from  each  District,  and  two  from  the  Stand 
ing  Committee. 

Mr.  T.  R  MARVIN,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Mr.  Mulkey's  request,  presented  a  report  which  was 
accepted. 

From  this  report,  it  appears,  that  after  a  conference 
with  the  Committee,  Mr.  Mulkey  was  allowed  to  try 
his  system  in  School  No.  4,  District  No.  5,  kept  by 
Miss  Cragin,  "  and  that  he  had  given  twelve  lectures 
to  the  children  of  about  half  an  hour  each.  The 
children  were  also  instructed  by  their  teacher,  in 
Mr.  Mulkey's  system,  one  hour  and  a  half  each 
day ;  and  made  as  much  proficiency  as  could  have 


156  ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

been  expected  for  the  time."  The  Committee,  how 
ever,  state,  that  "  from  the  limited  time,  which  has 
been  spent  on  this  subject,  they  are  not  prepared  to 
give  a  very  definite  opinion  of  Mr.  Mulkey's  system 
of  teaching.  They  believe  that  some  part  of  it  may 
prove  useful,  particularly  to  the  teachers.  They 
cannot,  however,  at  present,  recommend  its  intro 
duction  into  the  Primary  Schools.  It  is  so  great  an 
innovation  upon  the  common  system,  that  they  think 
if  it  should  be  introduced  at  all  into  the  schools,  it 
ought  to  be  done  in  a  gradual  manner,  as  it  will 
require  considerable  attention,  on  the  part  of  the 
teachers,  to  become  familiar  with  it.  It  appears, 
also,  that  the  whole  of  Mr.  Mulkey's  system  has  not 
been  developed ;  that  part  on  which  he  has  been 
lecturing  being  more  particularly  adpated  to  teachers. 

The  Committee  conclude  their  report  by  recom 
mending,  "  that  the  system  be  continued  in  Miss 
Cragin's  school,  under  their  control,  and  that  they  be 
directed  to  report  further  at  the  next  quarterly  meet 
ing  of  the  Board." 

Another  report  was  accordingly  made  at  the  quarterly 
meeting  May  6,  upon  which,  on  motion  of  Mr.  J.  P.  Bige- 
low,  it  was  "  Voted,  that  the  experiment  be  continued  in 
Miss  Cragin's  school,"  and  "  that  other  teachers  duly 
qualified,  have  liberty  to  employ  the  system  in  the  in 
struction  of  their  4th  classes,  with  the  consent,  and 
under  the  direction  of  their  Local  Committees." 

It  does  not  appear  from  the  Records,  that  under 
these  Votes,  the  system  of  Mr.  Mulkey  was  intro 
duced  to  any  considerable  extent  into  the  Primary 
Schools,  as  no  further  report  appears  to  have  been 


ANNALS    OF  THE    PKB1ARY    SCHOOLS.  157 

made  upon  the  subject.  That  it  was  fairly  tested, 
there  is  no  doubt,  as  the  influence  exerted  in  its  favor 
was  very  great.  The  Grammar  School  Board  had 
already  taken  action,  by  appointing  a  Committee,  in 
October,  1833,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  employ 
ing  the  Rev.  Wm.  Mulkey  to  lecture  to  the  teachers 
of  the  several  Public  Schools,  on  the  accent  and  pro 
nunciation  of  the  English  language.  This  Committee 
reported  by  their  Chairman,  Rev.  George  W.  Blagden, 
"  that  after  due  examination,  they  considered  the  sys 
tem  of  Mr.  Mulkey,  as  a  simple  and  interesting  process 
for  understanding  the  important  principles  of  English 
Orthoepy,  and  that  in  their  opinion,  it  was  expedient 
and  proper,  to  employ  him  to  lecture  to  the  teachers 
upon  this  subject.  And  they  recommend  that  the 
Board  do,  by  their  Chairman,  respectfully  ask  the 
City  Council  for  an  appropriation  sufficient  to  carry 
this  design  into  execution." 

This  Report  was  accepted,  and  on  the  application 
of  .the  Mayor,  (Chairman  ex  officw)  the  City  Council 
passed  an  order  Nov.  14,  1833,  authorizing  the  School 
Committee  to  employ  Mr.  Mulkey,  and  appropriating 
Five  Hundred  dollars  for  these  lectures. 

Thus  recommended  by  the  Grammar  Board,  which 
at  this  time  comprehended  the  entire  Board  of  Alder 
men,  —  endorsed  by  the  Professor  of  Elocution  at 
Harvard  University,  and  many  other  eminent  literary 
gentlemen,  —  and  sanctioned  by  a  liberal  appropria 
tion  of  the  City  Government,  —  Mr.  Mulkey  presented 
his  request  to  the  Primary  School  Committee.  The 
request  was  granted,  and  the  experiment  placed  under 
the  direction  of  an  experienced  and  judicious  com- 


158  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

mittee,  a  portion  of  whose  reports  have  been  already 
presented,  and  affords  another  illustration  of  the  care 
ful  conservatism  of  this  Board,  upon  the  introduction 
of  any  new  project,  however  influentially  urged  upon 
their  attention. 

Mr.  Mulkey's  system  of  Orthoepy  was  similar  to 
those  which  have  been  often  attempted,  in  various 
forms,  but  more  recently  under  the  name  of  "Phonet 
ics  ; "  in  which  the  real  elementary  sounds,  which  con 
stitute  the  syllables,  are  at  once  taught,  instead  of  first 
teaching  the  conventional  sounds  or  names  of  the  let 
ters.  In  theory  such  a  system  commends  itself  to  our 
judgment,  but,  to  reduce  it  to  practice,  renders  the 
changes  and  innovations  in  our  language  so  radical 
and  extensive,  as  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  its 
successful  introduction.  We  should,  however,  do  great 
injustice  to  those  friends  of  education,  through  whose 
instrumentality  these  various  experiments  have  been 
tried  in  our  schools,  were  we  not  to  admit  that  great 
advantages  have  accrued  to  the  process  of  education, 
from  the  valuable  ideas  which,  by  this  means,  have 
been  suggested  or  obtained. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  Aug.  5,  the  Standing 
Committee  announced  the  death  of  Mr.  GEORGE  A. 
SAMPSON,  wrho  had  been,  for  some  years,  associated  with 
the  Board  as  a  member  of  the  District,  and  of  the  Stand 
ing  Committee  ;  the  duties  of  which,  he  had  performed 
in  a  most  faithful  and  exemplary  manner ;  and  on  their 
recommendation,  Mr.  FRANCIS  BROWN  was  chosen  as  a 
member  of  the  Standing  Committee  to  fill  the  va 
cancy  occasioned  by  the  decease  of  Mr.  Sampson. 

A  model  of  a  "Punkah,"  or  fan  for  the  ventilation 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  159 

of  school-rooms,  having  been  exhibited,  Drs.  Otis  and 
Stebbins,  and  Mr.  Austin,  were  chosen  a  Committee  to 
examine  the  same,  and  if  they  judged  it  expedient,  to 
have  one  erected  for  trial. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  Nov.  4,  the  Chairman  com 
municated  to  the  Board,  the  resignation  of  Dr.  EDWARD 
G.  DAVIS  as  Secretary,  whereupon,  Mr.  GUSTAVUS  HORTON 
was  elected. 

Dr.  Thomas  Gray,  Jr.,  having  resigned  his  place  as 
Committee  of  School  No.  5,  District  No.  3,  and  Mr. 
John  P.  Lathrop,  a  teacher  in  one  of  the  Public  Gram 
mar  Schools,  having  been  proposed  as  a  substitute, 
an  incidental  discussion  ensued,  on  the  propriety  of 
teachers  in  these  schools  becoming  members  of  the 
Primary  School  Committee.  It  was  accordingly  moved, 
that  the  subject  be  referred  to  a  Committee  to  report 
upon  at  the  next  meeting.  This  motion  was  decided 
in  the  negative,  and  Mr.  Lathrop  was  admitted,  and  re 
mained  upon  the  Board  until  Nov.,  1836.  At  the  next 
meeting,  Mr.  Charles  Fox,  another  Grammar  School 
teacher,  was  nominated  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  District 
No.  7 ;  but  after  rather  an  elaborate  debate,  a  ballot 
was  taken,  and  Mr.  Fox  was  rejected.  No  objections 
were  made  to  the  character  or  qualifications  of  Mr. 
Fox,  but  the  rejection  of  his  nomination  was  simply 
an  expression  of  the  opinion  of  the  Board  as  to  the 
principle  involved  in  the  election  of  Grammar  School 
masters  as  members  of  the  Primary  Board.  Subse 
quently  a  Committee  was  appointed  upon  the  sub 
ject,  and  upon  their  report  the  Board  "Voted,  That 
it  was  inexpedient  for  the  teachers  of  the  Grammar 


ICO  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

Schools   to   be   elected   as   members   of   the   Primary 
School  Committee." 


1835. 

FEBRUARY  3.  This  being  the  regular  meeting  for 
the  choice  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year,  the  Board 
proceeded  to  organize  as  follows: 

Chairman  —  LEWIS  G.  PRAY. 

Secretary  —  GUSTAVUS  HORTON. 

Standing  Committee  —  George  "W.  Otis,  Jr.,  Chairman  ; 
Frederic  A.  Sumner,  Secretary ;  Lewis  G.  Pray,  John 
P.  Bigelow,  Francis  Brown,  Theophilus  E.  Marvin, 
Samuel  Tenney,  George  Eogers. 

Committee  of  Conference  —  T.  K.  Marvin,  G.  TV.  Otis, 
Jr.,  F.  A.  Simmer. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting,  May  5,  an  order  was 
passed,  appointing  Messrs.  Thomas  Hunting,  Henry 
Hatch,  and  Samuel  Tenney,  a  Committee  to  attend 
to  a  division  of  District  No.  7.  This  Committee  sub 
sequently  reported,  August  4,  in  favor  of  dividing 
the  district,  so  that  District  No.  7  should  contain 
schools  Nos.  1,  3,  7,  8,  9  and  10,  and  the  new  District 
No.  9  should  consist  of  schools  Nos.  2,  4,  5,  G,  11  and 
12,  the  last  being  a  new  school.  On  the  recommend 
ation  of  the  Standing  Committee,  Dr.  JOHN  FLINT  was 
chosen  in  place  of  Mr.  Marvin,  who  had  resigned 
as  a  member  of  that  body;  and  Dr.  AUGUSTUS  A. 
GOULD  was  elected  for  the  new  District,  No.  9,  as 
members  of  the  Standing  Committee. 

At  this  meeting  a  report  was  made  by  Mr.  Pray, 
approving  of  the  study  of  Ethics,  in  some  simple 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  161 

form,  as  a  part  of  the  course  of  instruction  in  the 
Primary  Schools.  This  report  was  accepted,  and  the 
mode  of  its  introduction  referred  to  the  same  Com 
mittee;  but  it  does  not  appear  to  have  been  intro 
duced  into  any  of  the  schools. 

A  petition  was  presented  to  the  Board,  November 
3,  from  the  inhabitants  of  East  Boston,  requesting 
the  establishment  of  a  Primary  School  in  that  sec 
tion  of  the  city.  This  petition  was  referred  to  the 
Standing  Committee  to  make  inquiry,  and  if  found 
expedient,  to  establish  a  school  on  the  same  plan 
as  that  on  the  Mill  Dam. 

A  petition  was  also  presented  from  the  teachers 
of  the  schools,  under  the  care  of  the  Primary  Board, 
setting  forth  the  duties  and  responsibilities  devolv 
ing  upon  them,  and  requesting  that  their  com 
pensation  might  be  increased.  Whereupon,  it  was 
unanimously  "Voted,  That  the  Standing  Committee 
be  instructed  to  petition  the  next  City  Council  to 
increase  the  pay  of  the  teachers  from  $200  to  $250 
per  annum." 

It  was  also  "Voted,  That  a  Standing  Committee 
on  School  Books  be  appointed,  the  Committee  to  con 
sist  of  five."  Messrs.  L.  G.  Pray,  C.  F.  Barnard,  A. 
A.  Gould,  J.  P.  Lathrop,  and  G.  Horton,  were  elected 
as  the  first  Committee  under  this  vote. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  Novem 
ber  11,  the  following  Eesolutions  were  adopted,  viz.: 

1.  That  the  Semi- Annual  examinations  shall  be  made  dur 
ing  the  first  three  weeks  in  the  months  of  April  and  October. 

2.  That  each  member  of  the  Standing  Committee  shall  re 
port  in  writing  on  the  condition  of  the  district  assigned  him. 

21 


1G2  ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

3.  That   the  Report  shall   give  a  brief  statement  of  the 
condition  of  each  school  examined,  and  at  the  close  a  sum 
mary  of  the  condition  of  the  whole  district. 

4.  That  each  member  of  the  Standing  Committee,  in  turn, 
beginning  with   the  Chairman,  and  proceeding  according  to 
seniority  of  office,  shall  make  up  the  quarterly  abstracts  for 
the  use  of  the  whole  Board,  and  no  member  shall  be  at  liberty 
to  decline  the  duty,  but  may  procure  a  substitute  by  exchange 
or  otherwise. 

The  school  at  East  Boston  was  then  organized  by 
the  choice  of  Mr.  Guy  C.  Haynes  and  Mr.  Benjamin 
Brown  as  a  Committee  for  the  school,  and  Miss  E. 
L.  Pierce  as  teacher. 

1836. 

FEBRUARY  2.  A  communication  wras  received  from 
Samuel  F.  McCleary,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  School 
Committee,  containing  a  vote  of  that  body,  confirm 
ing  the  present  members  of  the  Primary  Board  in 
office  another  year,  and  authorizing  them  to  fill  any 
vacancies  which  may  occur  in  their  numbers  during 
the  year. 

Mr.  LEWIS  G.  PRAY  having  declined  standing  as  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  Chairman  another  year, 
on  motion  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Bourne,  it  was  "  Voted,  That 
a  Committee  of  one  from  each  District  be  appointed 
by  the  Chairman  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  that 
office."  The  Committee  subsequently  reported  the 
name  of  Dr.  GEORGE  W.  OTIS,  Jr.,  as  a  suitable  person 
to  fill  the  office  of  Chairman  of  the  Board;  which 
nomination  was  confirmed  by  Dr.  Otis  receiving 
nearly  all  the  ballots  of  the  Board.  Mr.  GUSTAVUS 


ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS.         163 

HORTON  was  unanimously  reflected  Secretary,  but  de 
clined  the  office  at  the  next  meeting.  All  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Standing  Committee  were  reflected,  and 
the  same  Committee  of  Conference  were  reappointed. 

The  subject  of  paying  a  salary  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Board  and  Standing  Committee  for  the  ensu 
ing  year,  was  referred  to  a  Committee. 

The  Standing  Committee  reported  that  they  had 
established  the  school  at  East  Boston,  and  also  that 
another  school,  of  the  same  character,  had  been 
petitioned  for,  to  be  located  in  the  same  section. 
Upon  the  suggestion  of  the  Standing  Committee,  the 
Board  "  Voted,  That  the  subject  of  another  school  be 
referred  to  the  Standing  Committee,  with  authority 
to  confer  with  the  Grammar  School  Committee,  as 
to  the  propriety  of  establishing  such  schools  in  which 
other  than  primary  studies  are  taught;  and  whether 
the  Primary  Board  is  justified  in  organizing  them." 

The  Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee  subse 
quently  addressed  a  note  to  the  Committee  of  Con 
ference,  on  the  part  of  the  Grammar  Schools,  request 
ing  that  a  time  and  place  may  be  appointed  by  them 
to  meet  a  Sub-Committee  of  the  Standing  Commit 
tee,  in  reference  to  the  school  at  East  Boston.  At  a 
meeting,  March  29,  Mr.  Pray,  from  the  Committee 
of  Conference,  reported  "  that  a  Conference  had  been 
held  writh  the  Committee  of  the  Grammar  School 
Board,  and  that  leave  had  been  obtained  to  receive 
into  the  schools  at  East  Boston,  such  children  as  did 
not  strictly  come  within  the  Primary  School  Eegula- 
tions."  Upon  which,  Mr.  Pray  and  Dr.  Otis  were 
appointed  a  Committee  to  ascertain  "if  there  was  a 


164  ANNALS    OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

sufficient  number  of  pupils  to  warrant  the  establish 
ment  of  another  school  at  East  Boston;  and  if  so, 
to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  its  organiza 
tion,  such  as  obtaining  a  room,  selecting  a  teacher 
and  Committee  to  take  charge  of  it.  The  Secretary 
was  also  "  directed  to  notify  the  City  Auditor,  at  the 
proper  time,  of  the  formation  of  the  new  school, 
and  the  names  of  the  Committee  and  teacher,  that 
the  salary  of  the  latter  could  be  properly  provided 
for." 

We  have  entered  into  a  detail  of  the  proceedings 
in  regard  to  the  formation  of  this  school,  to  illustrate 
the  cautious  manner  in  which  new  schools  were  estab 
lished  by  the  Primary  School  Committee,  and  their 
respect  for  the  prerogatives  of  the  Grammar  Board ; 
and  also  as  an  indication  of  the  reciprocal  courtesy 
which  characterized  their  intercourse  upon  questions 
of  mutual  interest. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting,  May  6,  the  thanks  of  the 
Board  were  tendered  to  Mr.  LEWIS  G.  PRAY  for  the 
acceptable  manner  in  which  he  had  performed  the 
duties  of  Chairman,  and  to  Mr.  GUSTAVUS  HORTON  for 
his  faithful  and  laborious  services  as  Secretary  of  the 
Board. 

Messrs.  R  W.  Bayley  and  L.  G.  Pray  were  appointed 
a  "  Committee  to  call  upon  the  publishers  of  the  sev 
eral  books  used  in  the  Primary  Schools,  and  remon 
strate  against  the  binding  of  them;  and  if  necessary, 
to  state  that  unless  a  remedy  is  applied,  other  books 
must  be  substituted  for  them  in  the  schools."  This 
Committee  reported  at  the  next  meeting  that  they 
had  attended  to  the  duty,  and  the  publishers  had 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  165 

promised  immediate  improvement.  On  motion  of 
Mr.  S.  H.  Walley,  the  teachers  were  allowed  to  use 
Gallaudet's  "  Mother's  Primer "  for  teaching  the  alpha 
bet,  by  way  of  experiment,  and  requested  to  report 
to  their  District  Committees  their  opinion  of  its 
value. 

The  Secretary  was  directed  to  apply  to  the  City 
Government  for  a  suitable  and  safe  depository  in  one 
of  the  public  rooms  of  the  city,  for  the  books  arid 
other  property  belonging  to  the  Primary  Committee. 

The  number  of  schools  at  this  time  wTas  seventy- 
three,  and  the  duties  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Board 
and  of  the  Standing  Committee  had  become  so  ardu 
ous,  as  to  require  great  personal  sacrifices  en  the  part 
of  the  members  who  accepted  those  offices.  Under 
these  circumstances,  the  Board,  at  their  first  meet 
ing  in  February,  appointed  a  Committee,  who,  in 
May,  presented  a  petition  to  the  City  Government 
for  an  appropriation  of  $200  per  annum  to  compen 
sate,  in  some  degree,  for  the  labor  performed  by  these 
officers.  While  this  petition  wras  under  consideration, 
the  Board  deferred  electing  a  Secretary;  and  as  it 
was  not  acted  upon  by  the  City  Council,  the  records 
of  the  Board  were  made  by  Secretaries  pro  tern,  dur 
ing  the  entire  year. 

1837. 

FEBRUARY  7.  Notice  of  their  appointment  having 
been  received,  the  Board  was  organized  by  the  elec 
tion  of  the  following  officers  and  Committees: 

Chairman  —  GEORGE  W.  OTIS,  Jr. 

Secretary  —  JOSEPH  CURTIS. 


1C  6  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Standing  Committee  —  Sam'l  Tenney,  CJurirman ;  Fred 
eric  A.  Sumner,  Secretary ;  George  W.  Otis,  Jr.,  K 
Weston,  Jr.,  Gustavus  Horton,  George  Rogers,  A.  A. 
Gould,  J.  B.  Stebbins,  R.  W.  Bayley. 

Committee  of  Conference  —  George  W.  Otis,  Jr.,  F.  A. 
Sumner,  Josiah  F.  Bumstead. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  January 
31,  "  the  Chairman  communicated  the  resignation  of 
Mr.  JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,  and  also  his  best  wishes  for 
the  success  and  prosperity  of  the  Board."  Dr.  JOHN 
FLINT  having  also  tendered  his  resignation,  the  Com 
mittee  nominated  Mr.  E.  WESTOX,  Jr.,  and  Dr.  J.  B. 
STEBBINS  to  the  Board,  to  fill  the  vacancies  occasioned 
by  the  resignation  of  Messrs.  Bigelow  and  Flint. 

Mr.  Bigelow  was  elected  as  a  member  of  District  No. 
6,  in  March,  1828,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  to 
act  until  his  election  to  the  Standing  Committee  in 
January,  1829.  From  this  time  until  his  resignation,  a 
period  of  nine  years,  he  was  a  prompt,  efficient,  and 
valuable  member  of  the  Committee,  having  made  dur 
ing  that  time  all  of  the  Semi- Annual  examinations  and 
Reports  of  the  Districts  assigned  to  him,  besides  a  num 
ber  of  interesting  quarterly  and  other  Reports  of  the 
Standing  Committee  to  the  Board. 

MAY  2.  The  City  Council  having  appropriated  $100 
for  the  services  of  the  Secretaries,  Mr.  Pray  offered  the 
following  :  "  Voted,  That  the  Secretary  of  this  Board  be 
authorized,  in  conformity  with  a  vote  of  the  City  Coun 
cil,  to  present,  quarterly,  to  the  proper  authorities,  a  bill 
for  $25,  as  payment  for  his  services."  The  adoption  of 
this  vote  being  opposed,  it  was  amended  by  the  mover, 
so  as  to  allow  $60  per  annum  to  the  Secretary  of  the 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  167 

whole  Board,  and  $40  per  annum  to  the  Secretary 
of  the  Standing  Committee,  and  the  vote  was  then 
adopted. 

Some  dissatisfaction  was  expressed  with  the  small 
amount  appropriated  by  the  City  Council ;  and  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Walley,  "  the  Chairman  of  the  Board 
was  authorized  to  apply  to  the  City  Authorities  for 
additional  compensation  for  the  Secretaries,  whenever 
he  may  deem  it  expedient." 

The  Standing  Committee  on  School  Books  reported 
that  they  were  unanimously  in  favor  of  a  better  book 
for  the  highest  classes,  and  commended  to  the  favorable 
notice  of  the  Board,  "  The  Mother's  Primer,"  by  Gallau- 
det.  The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  Secretary  was 
directed  to  procure  a  sufficient  number  of  copies  for 
the  use  of  the  schools. 

The  Secretaries  of  tne  Districts  were  requested  to 
furnish  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  at  least  one  month 
before  each  quarterly  meeting,  with  a  correct  list  of  the 
names  and  residences  of  each  member  of  their  respect 
ive  Committees  and  teachers. 

In  1834,  a  Standing  Committee  on  school-rooms  was 
added  to  the  organization  of  the  Board  •  but,  although 
this  Committee  had,  since  that  time,  been  annually 
elected,  their  specific  duties  had  not  been  defined.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  present  year,  (1837,)  a  Committee 
was  appointed  to  define  the  powers  and  duties  of  the 
Committee  on  school-rooms.  Their  report  came  up  for 
consideration  at  the  quarterly  meeting,  November  7, 
and  after  the  adoption  of  sundry  amendments,  was 
accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  incorporated  into  the  Rules 
as  Section  I,  Rule  7,  of  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of 


1G8  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRDIARY   SCHOOLS. 

the  Board.     The  duties   thus   defined  remained  unal 
tered  until  the  dissolution  of  the  Board. 

The  subject  of  school  books  having  excited  consider 
able  interest,  from  the  difficulty  experienced  in  obtain 
ing  those  which  were  satisfactory  in  all  respects,  a 
special  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held,  November  21, 
at  which  it  was 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  five  be  appointed  by  the 
Board  to  prepare  or  procure  a  Reading  Book  for  the  First 
Class  in  the  Primary  Schools ;  and  that  they  be  instructed  to 
give  the  preference,  in  their  selections,  to  the  Scriptures,  and 
American  authors;  the  book  decided  upon,  or  the  selection 
made,  to  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Board  before 
printing. 

Pending  the  consideration  of  this  resolution,  Mr.  J. 
W.  Ingraham  offered  the  following  as  a  substitute : 

Resolved,  That  a  premium  of  five  hundred  dollars  be 
offered  to  the  author  or  compiler  of  the  best  series  of 
_j  School  Books  for  use  in  the  Primary  Schools  of  this  city; 
the  copy-right  to  belong  to  this  Committee ;  or  if  the  author 
prefer  to  retain  the  copy-right,  that  to  be  considered  in  lieu 
of  the  premium. 

After  discussion  the  substitute  was  negatived,  and 
the  first  resolution  \vas  adopted,  and  the  Committee 
was  appointed.  This  Committee  reported  at  a  sub 
sequent  meeting  in  favor  of  placing  the  subject  in 
charge  of  the  Standing  Committee  on  school  books ; 
and  at  their  request,  were  excused  from  a  further 
consideration  of  the  subject. 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  169 


1838. 

FEBRUARY  6.  This  being  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Board,  it  was  organized  as  follows  : 

Chairman  —  GEORGE  W.  OTIS,  Jr. 

Secretary  —  JOSEPH  CURTIS. 

Standing  Committee  —  Eichard  W.  Bayley,  Chairman; 
F.  A.  Sumner,  Secretary;  George  W.  Otis,  Jr.,  A.  A. 
Gould,  J.  B.  Stebbins,  Francis  Brown,  George  Kogers, 
J.  F.  Bumstead,  J.  W.  Bourne. 

Committee  of  Conference  —  George  W.  Otis,  Jr.,  F.  A. 
Sumner,  J.  F.  Blanchard. 

After  the  report  of  the  Standing  Committee  had 
been  read  by  Dr.  J.  B.  STEBBINS,  the  following  vote  was 
passed :  "  Voted,  That  Messrs.  Pray,  E.  W.  Bayley,  Bum- 
stead,  Cobb,  Wales  and  Otis,  be  a  Committee  to  con 
sider  and  report  upon  the  expediency  of  making  it  the 
duty  of  the  Standing  Committee  to  call  together  the 
teachers  and  members  of  the  Board  of  the  Primary 
Schools,  Semi-Annually,  in  the  week  succeeding  the 
meetings  of  the  whole  Board,  in  April  and  October  of 
each  year,  for  the  purpose  of  communicating  to  them 
the  Semi-Annual  report  and  such  other  information 
as  this  Board  may  direct,  or  the  Standing  Committee 
may  think  useful  and  necessary." 

The  same  Committee  was  instructed  to  inquire  and 
report  if  any  other  method  can  be  adopted  in  the  Semi- 
Annual  examinations  of  the  schools,  by  which  their 
condition  may  be  improved,  and  a  better  knowledge 
obtained  by  the  Board  of  their  relative  standing. 

An  adjourned  meeting  was  held,  March  6,  at  which 
a  report  from  the  Committee  on  Books  was  made,  re- 


170  ANNALS   OF  TIIE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

commending  Abbott' s  "  Mount  Ycrnon  Junior  Reader," 
for  the  Third  and  Second  Classes,  and  "  Pierpont's 
Young  Reader,"  in  place  of  "  Blake's  Reader,"  in  the 
First  Classes.  The  Secretary  was  also  instructed  to 
request  the  teachers  and  Committees  of  the  several 
Districts  to  have  these  books  introduced  on  the  first 
Monday  in  May. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  the  Committee,  to  whom  was 
referred  the  expediency  of  Semi-Annual  meetings  of 
the  teachers,  to  hear  the  reports  of  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  made  a  report  in  favor,  and  recommended 
several  additional  sections  to  the  Rules  and  Regula 
tions,  all  of  which  were  adopted  by  the  Board.  As 
these  meetings  were  a  peculiar  feature  of  the  Primary 
School  Board,  we  present  a  few  extracts  from  the  Com 
mittee's  Report,  which  will  express  their  views  and 
those  of  the  Standing  Committee,  upon  the  subject: 

The  object  proposed  is  to  open  between  the  members  of 
the  Board  and  the  teachers  of  the  schools  a  more  direct  and 
constant  communication,  by  which  they  will  become  better 
acquainted  with  each  other;  there  will  be  created  between 
them  a  stronger  sympathy  in  advancing  the  object  they  have 
mutually  in  view,  viz.,  the  improvement  of  the  schools ;  and 
by  communicating  to  the  teachers,  through  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  the  doings  of  the  Board,  its  Semi-Annual  reports,  the 
votes  which  are  passed  in  relation  to  the  duties  of  the  teach 
ers,  and  all  other  information  appertaining  to  the  wishes  of 
the  Committee  or  the  wants  of  the  schools,  there  will  be  a 
uniformity  of  feeling  and  action  produced,  which  cannot  fail 
to  have  the  most  salutary  influence. 

To  make  these  meetings  effectual,  two  things  arc  necessary, 
first,  that  all  the  teachers  be  present ;  and  secondly,  that  the 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  171 

meetings  be  conducted  in  such  a  way  that  they  shall  be  in 
structive  and  useful.  To  accomplish  the  first  purpose,  it 
should  be  made  the  duty  of  all  the  teachers  of  the  Primary 
Schools  to  attend  these  meetings.  To  secure  this,  it  would 
be  obviously  inexpedient  and  improper  to  take  their  time  on 
Wednesday  and  Saturday  afternoons,  or  on  any  evening  in 
the  week,  as  it  might  be  inconvenient  or  impracticable  for 
them  to  attend.  Your  Committee,  therefore,  recommend  that 
these  meetings  be  held  on  Tuesday  afternoons,  and  that  the 
schools  be  dismissed  for  the  purpose.  As  it  will  require  but 
two  afternoons  in  the  year,  they  are  of  opinion  that  the  time 
lost  by  the  children  will  be  more  than  compensated  by  the 
good  that  will  accrue  to  the  teachers. 

To  accomplish  the  second  purpose,  that  is,  to  render  these 
meetings  useful  and  instructive,  it  is  proposed  that  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  Standing  Committee  to  call  two  meetings  of 
the  teachers  on  the  second  Tuesday  afternoons  of  April  and 
October,  at  some  central  and  convenient  place ;  the  teachers 
and  members  of  the  Board  to  be  notified  by  the  Secretary ; 
and  when  assembled,  the  Standing  Committee  shall  communi 
cate  to  them  the  reports  of  the  examinations  of  their  schools. 
They  shall  also  make  known  to  the  teachers  and  fully  explain 
to  them  any  votes  passed  by  the  Board,  appertaining  to  their 
duties  or  expressive  of  its  wishes  in  regard  to  any  improve 
ment  which  they  may  desire  to  effect.  The  occasion  may  also 
be  embraced,  if  time  permits,  for  communications  or  addresses 
by  themselves,  or  others  invited  by  them,  on  the  subject  of 
education  in  general,  or  the  improvements  in  study,  discipline 
or  modes  of  instruction. 


The  same  Committee  reported  in  favor  of  the  Stand 
ing  Committee  being  empowered  and  instructed  to 
examine  the  schools  by  bringing  together  in  succession 
the  two  highest  classes  of  the  schools  in  each  District, 


172  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

for  the  purpose  of  comparing  the  proficiency  of  the 
classes  in  the  several  schools  of  a  district  with  each 
other,  and  to  ascertain  their  discipline  and  the  con 
dition  of  the  lower  classes,  by  subsequent  visits  to  each 
of  the  schools. 

Heretofore,  the  First  and  Second  Classes  had  been 
examined  in  their  own  school-rooms,  which  usually 
occupied  a  whole  session  for  each  of  the  schools,  besides 
more  or  less  of  another  session,  which  was  required  for 
the  lower  classes.  The  effect  of  this  was  to  bring  the 
examination  of  the  schools  at  different  times  and  in 
different  states  of  the  weather,  by  which,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  District  Committees  and  teachers,  their  classes 
were  so  affected  as  to  receive,  sometimes,  a  less  favor 
able  report  than  their  actual  condition  entitled  them  to. 

To  obviate  any  feelings  of  this  nature,  and  being 
authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  Board,  the  Standing  Com 
mittee  decided  to  make  their  arrangements  for  the 
April  examination,  on  the  plan  proposed.  Accordingly, 
all  the  First  Classes  of  the  schools  in  each  district 
were  brought  together  in  one  of  their  school-rooms 
on  a  certain  day  selected  by  the  examiner,  and  ex 
amined  in  the  presence  of  each  other,  and  in  the 
presence  of  their  teachers  and  Local  Committees.  On 
a  subsequent  day,  all  the  Second  Classes  were  brought 
together,  and  examined  in  the  same  manner.  The 
.  result  of  this  course  was,  that  a  more  accurate  idea 
was  obtained  by  the  Examining  Committee,  of  the 
relative  proficiency  of  the  several  schools ;  the  teach 
ers  were  enabled  to  compare  the  success  of  their  own 
efforts  with  those  of  their  associates  ;  the  Committees 
had  an  opportunity  to  judge  of  the  efficiency  of  their 


ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS.         173 

respective  teachers,  and  it  had  a  tendency  to  excite  a 
laudable  emulation  among  the  teachers  and  the  pupils, 
to  the  advantage  of  all  the  schools.  This  mode  of 
examination  having  proved  eminently  successful,  con 
tinued  to  be  practised  until  the  close  of  the  labors 
of  the  Board. 

Year  after  year,  from  the  first  establishment  of 
these  schools,  the  Primary  Board  had  endeavored  to 
obtain  the  necessary  authority  to  admit  to  their  schools 
those  children  who  were  more  than  seven  years  of  age, 
and  were  not  qualified  to  enter  the  Grammar  Schools. 
Frequent  appeals  had  been  made  to  the  Grammar 
School  Committee,  and  to  the  City  Council,  all  of  which 
had  proved  unsuccessful,  until,  finally,  after  nearly 
twenty  years  unremitted  effort,  the  following  Order 
was  passed  by  the  City  Council  on  the  22d  of  March, 
1838: 

Ordered,  That  the  Primary  School  Committee  be,  and  they 
are  hereby,  authorized  to  admit  into  one  school,  to  be  by 
them  selected,  in  each  of  the  school  districts,  any  child  who 
is  more  than  seven  years  of  age,  and  is  not  qualified  for 
admission  to  the  Grammar  Schools. 

This  order  of  the  City  Government  was  communi 
cated  to  the  Board  by  the  City  Clerk,  at  the  quarterly 
meeting,  May  1st,  and  was  referred  to  a  Committee, 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Pray,  Flint,  Sumner,  Gulliver  and 
McBurney,  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  to 
carry  the  same  into  effect.  This  Committee  subse 
quently  reported,  "  that  the  object  of  these  schools 
being  only  for  the  accommodation  of  those  who, 
corning  from  abroad,  or  who,  from  misfortune  or 


\ 


174  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

neglect,  are  excluded  from  the  Grammar  Schools  on 
the  ground  of  qualification,  and  from  the  Primary 
Schools  on  account  of  age, —  they  deem  it  unneces 
sary  to  establish  a  school  for  special  instruction  in 
each  ,of  the  districts ;  and  are  of  opinion  that  the 
formation  of  a  school  of  this  kind  in  each  of  the 
Districts  Nos.  2,  5,  7,  and  8,  will  be  sufficient  for  the 
present  time." 

When  this  order  was  first  passed,  it  was  supposed 
that  there  were  about  700  children  who  were  proper 
subjects  for  such  schools ;  but  in  November  of  the  same 
year,  there  were  963  in  the  schools,  or  13  per  cent,  of 
the  whole  number  of  scholars. 

This  was  the  origin  of  our  "  Intermediate  Schools," 
or  "  Schools  for  Special  Instruction,"  which  were  subse 
quently  established  in  the  several  districts,  with  great 
advantage  to  the  other  schools. 

The  Committee  on  Books  were  instructed  to  consider 
the  expediency  of  furnishing  each  of  the  Primary 
Schools  with  a  "  Blackboard,"  and  to  report  upon  the 
proper  mode  of  procuring  and  using  it.  The  Chair 
man  of  the  Standing  Committee  was  also  requested 
to  call  upon  the  publisher  of  the  "  Mount  Vernon 
Reader,"  and  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  bad  binding 
of  many  copies  supplied  to  the  schools. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Board,  the  Standing 
Committee  held  a  meeting,  and  appointed  Messrs. 
Bayley  and  Brown  as  a  Committee  of  Arrangements, 
in  regard  to  the  meeting  of  the  Committee  and 
teachers  of  the  Primary  Schools  on  the  afternoon  of 
Tuesday,  May  8.  This  first  semi-annual  meeting  of 
the  teachers  to  hear  the  reports  of  the  examinations 


ANNALS    OF  THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  175 

of  their  schools,  was  accordingly  held  at  the  County 
Court  House,  (now  occupied  as  the  City  Hall,)  at 
which  seventy-eight  of  the  eighty-three  teachers,  and 
forty-two  members  of  the  Committee,  were  present. 
After  the  reports  were  read,  several  addresses  were 
made  by  members  of  the  Standing  Committee,  and 
other  eminent  friends  of  education.  A  highly  favor 
able  report  of  this  meeting  was  made  to  the  Board 
at  their  meeting  on  the  18th  of  May;  and  from  this 
time  these  meetings  of  the  teachers  were  regularly 
held  semi-annually,  and  have  been  always  regarded 
as  an  interesting  and  important  auxiliary  in  the  im 
provement  of  the  schools.  By  invitation  of  the  Stand 
ing  Committee,  they  were  frequently  attended  by  the 
Governors  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  other  State 
officers,  —  by  the  Mayors  of  our  city,  and  those  con 
nected  with  the  Municipal  Government,  —  by  the 
Secretaries  and  members  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
and  by  the  clergy  and  others,  wrho,  by  their  eloquent 
addresses  and  judicious  advice,  have  often  encouraged 
the  hands  and  hearts  of  the  Committee  and  teachers 
in  their  arduous  work. 

We  have  now  arrived  at  a  point  in  the  history  of 
the  Board,  from  which  we  may  trace  the  commence 
ment  of  the  opposition,  that  finally  resulted  in  the 
destruction  of  the  Primary  School  organization. 

The  Primary  Board,  as  we  have  seen  in  the  pre 
ceding  pages,  were   frequently   called    upon   to   exer 
cise  great  judgment  and  discretion  in  regard  to  the  , 
many   professed    reforms   which,   under   the    specious  \ 
name  of  "  educational  improvements,"  were  being  con- 


17G  ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

stantly  pressed  upon  their  attention.  In  the  decision 
of  these  questions  they  were  calm  and  deliberate, 
but  firm  in  opposing  all  innovations  which  appeared 
unnecessary,  or  were  incompatible  with  the  general 
system  which  long  experience  had  shown  to  be  well 
adapted  to  its  end. 

The  official  intercourse  between  the  Grammar  and 
Primary  Boards  had  ever  been  characterized  by  a 
courtesy  and  regard  for  the  duties  and  privileges  of 
each  other,  which  was  highly  honorable  to  both  par 
ties.  We  do  not  intend  to  imply  that  there  had  not 
been  differences  of  opinion  upon  various  matters, 
during  the  many  years  the  Public  Schools  had  been 
in  the  joint  charge  of  the  two  Boards ;  for  this  could 
not  be  reasonably  expected  of  two  coordinate 
branches  of  government,  whose  duties  were  so  inti 
mately  interwoven ;  but,  as  in  other  similar  cases, 
whenever  the  two  Boards  found  that  they  entertained 
different  views  upon  subjects  affecting  their  schools 
or  organization,  it  was  referred  to  Committees  of  Con 
ference,  and  by  this  means  all  differences  were  cour 
teously  considered,  and  were  generally  satisfactorily 
arranged.  At  this  time,  however,  the  Committee  of 
Conference  of  the  Grammar  Board  proposed  to  the 
Standing  Committee  of  Conference  of  the  Primary 
Board,  the  expediency  of  certain  changes  in  regard 
to  the  latter  organization,  which  were  considered  by 
them  as  too  important  for  their  action,  and  requiring 
the  appointment  of  a  Special  Committee.  For  a  proper 
understanding  of  this  subject,  it  will  be  necessary  for 
us  to  show  its  origin. 

In  April  1837,  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  State 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  177 

of  Massachusetts  was  established  by  the  Legislature, 
and  it  was  organized  in  June  of  the  same  year.  This 
Board  consists  of  ten  persons.  The  Governor  and 
Lieutenant-Governor,  for  the  time  being,  are  ex  officiis, 
members  of  the  Board.  In  the  act  establishing  the 
Board,  they  were  required  to  appoint  a  Secretary,  to 
"  collect  and  diffuse  information  of  the  most  approved 
and  successful  methods  of  arranging  the  studies,  and 
conducting  the  education  of  the  young,  to  the  end 
that  all  children  in  the  Commonwealth,  who  depend 
upon  Common  Schools  for  instruction,  may  have  the 
best  education  which  those  schools  can  be  made  to 
impart." 

In  pursuance  of  these  duties,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Board  turned  his  attention  to  the  Boston  Public 
Schools,  and  appears  to  have  succeeded  in  impressing 
upon  the  Grammar  School  Committee  a  portion  of  his 
spirit  and  independence  as  a  radical  and  uncompro 
mising  reformer,  which  they,  in  turn,  attempted  to 
impress  upon  the  Primary  Board.  Accordingly,  the 
Grammar  Board,  through  their  Committee  of  Confer 
ence,  presented  certain  propositions,  made  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education,  to  be  considered 
by  the  Committee  of  Conference  of  the  Primary  Board, 
but  the  latter,  justly  regarding  the  subject  beyond  their 
province,  brought  the  matter  before  the  Primary  Board 
at  a  special  meeting,  May  23,  which  resulted  in  the 
appointment  of  a  Special  Committee,  consisting  of  j 
Messrs.  Pray,  Wales,  Bumstead,  R.  W.  Bayley,  Flint 
and  Otis,  into  whose  hands  the  whole  subject  was 
placed.  As  this  Committee  declined  to  confer,  except 
with  a  Special  Committee  of  the  Grammar  Board,  the 


178  ANNALS    OF  JIIE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Standing  Committee  of  Conference  of  that  body  took 
umbrage,  and  insisted  upon  the  Special  Committee 
of  the  Primary  Board  conferring  with  them  alone, 
as  no  other  Committee  would  be  appointed  by  the 
Grammar  Board.  The  Committee  declined  a  confer 
ence  thus  dictated  to  them,  and  proceeded  to  make 
a  report,  on  their  own  responsibility,  which  was  sub 
mitted  to  the  Board,  July  3,  1838. 

We  regard  this  report  as  a  very  important  document 
in  our  history,  as  it  not  only  expresses  the  views  of  the 
Primary  Board  at  that  time,  on  several  matters  which 
have  since  been  consummated  by  the  Grammar  School 
Committee  and  the  City  Council,  but  because  we  be 
lieve  that  the  same  sentiments  were  entertained,  and 
the  same  principles  substantially  endorsed  by  their  suc 
cessors  on  the  Primary  School  Board.  Under  these  cir 
cumstances,  it  is  with  no  little  pride  that  we  transcribe 
the  clear  and  masterly  manner  in  which  the  subjects 
were  analyzed,  and  their  fallacies  exposed,  by  the  Com 
mittee,  and  their  noble  vindication  of  the  faithful  and 
valuable  services  of  the  members  of  the  Board. 

The  Committee,  after  stating  for  the  reasons  we  have 
given,  that  this  report  is  from  necessity  ex  partc,  pro 
ceed  as  follows : 

The  subject,  as  originally  presented  by  the  Secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  was  simply  that  of  adopting  some 
plan  in  this  city  for  "  qualifying  'teachers  to  take  charge  of 
our  Public  Schools."  In  consultation,  however,  with  that 
gentleman,  it  appears  that  he  suggested  to  the  Grammar 
School  Committee  "  that  a  suitable  person  be  engaged  to 
visit  regularly  all  the  Primary  Schools ;  to  give  the  present 
teachers  such  assistance  as  they  may  desire  in  the  discharge 


ANNALS    OF  .THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  179 

of  their  duties,  and  to  hold  himself  ready  to  instruct  and 
qualify  a  class  of  those  persons  who  may  desire  to  prepare 
themselves  for  the  office  of  teachers."  It  further  appears 
that  the  suggestion  in  this  form  met  with  the  approbation 
of  that  Committee,  —  a  suggestion  which  excluded  their 
schools  from  any  participation  in  the  benefits  to  be  derived 
from  the  plan !  In  this  stage  of  the  case  it  would  have 
seemed  perfectly  natural  if  that  Committee  had  felt  them 
selves  relieved  from  any  further  care  of  the  matter,  except, 
perhaps,  to  suggest  through  their  Committee  of  Conference, 
to  ours,  the  propriety  of  giving  the  subject  a  proper  consider 
ation.  But  they  determined  otherwise,  and  forthwith  pro 
ceeded  to  "  unfold  the  details  "  of  a  plan  for  this  Board,  the 
germ  of  which  had  thus  been  brought  under  their  cognizance. 

The  plan,  as  unfolded  by  the  Committee  of  the  other 
Board,  and  upon  which  they  ask  a  conference  with  us,  is 
divided  into  two  parts  ;  first,  as  to  the  agency,  which  the 
individual  proposed  to  be  appointed,  was  to  have  in  assist 
ing  the  teachers  and  relieving  the  Primary  School  Board 
of  the  duties  devolving  upon  them ;  and  secondly,  his  duties 
in  taking  charge  of  a  class  of  persons  who  may  desire  to 
become  qualified  for  the  situation  of  teachers. 

As  for  the  first  duty  proposed  for  this  agent,  there  is  great 
indistinctness  in  the  manner  in  which  it  is  unfolded  by  the 
Committee.  By  a  careful  analysis  of  it,  however,  they  are 
brought  to  the  conclusion,  that,  as  the  Committee  express 
the  opinion,  that  "  most  of  our  teachers  enter  upon  the  office 
with  very  little  experience  or  preparation  ;  "  and  as  they  are 
represented  to  be  "  very  grateful  for  every  exertion  that  is 
made  to  render  their  labors  more  easy  and  more  effective,"  it 
is  the  intention  of  the  Committee  that  this  agent,  if  appointed, 
shall  go  into  all  our  Primary  Schools,  and  impart  instruction 
there  to  all  our  teachers.  We  infer  this,  because  if  our  teach 
ers,  as  there  asserted,  have  little  preparation  before  they 
enter  upon  their  duties,  they  require  additional  instruction 


180  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

somewhere;  and  their  proposition  is,  not  that  they  should 
visit  him,  or  receive  instruction  at  his  school,  but  that  he 
should  visit  all  the  Primary  Schools,  and  give  the  present 
teachers  such  assistance  as  they  may  desire  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties,  so  as  to  render  their  labors  more  easy  and 
more  effective.  Your  Committee  regret  the  indistinctness 
with  which  this  proposition  is  shadowed  forth  in  the  report. 
But  if  they  have  divined  its  true  import,  they  arc  prepared 
to  say  to  this  feature  of  the  plan,  there  are  numerous  and 
fatal  objections.  They  need  not  be  given  in  detail.  It  will 
be  sufficient  only  to  name  them ;  and  the  first  objection  is, 
the  interruption  which  such  an  agency  would  constantly  be 
to  the  regular  instruction  of  the  schools.  The  second  is,  that 
it  would  lead  to  repeated  experiments  of  new  methods  of 
instruction,  which  could  not  be  sufficiently  understood,  when 
acquired  under  such  circumstances;  and  the  consequence 
would  be,  that  their  schools  would  suffer  more  by  the  new 
methods,  though  better,  than  by  the  use  of  the  old  methods, 
though  not  so  good ;  but  with  which  the  teachers  were  per 
fectly  familiar.  The  third  is,  that  it  would  lessen  the  respect 
of  the  pupils  for  their  teachers,  when  they  should  find  that, 
like  themselves,  they  were  the  subjects  of  instruction ;  and 
lastly,  that  there  would  be  constant  danger  that  this  agent 
would  come  in  conflict  with  the  opinions  and  requirements 
of  the  Committees  of  the  several  schools,  which  would  not 
only  perplex  the  teachers,  but  increase  their  labors  and 
anxieties,  and  do  more  harm  than  any  good  that  could  be 
effected  for  the  schools  by  this  measure. 

But  there  is  another  aspect  in  which  this  part  of  the 
proposition  is  to  be  regarded  that  calls  for  still  more  par 
ticular  consideration.  It  would  seem  as  if  by  this  arrange 
ment,  it  was  the  intention  of  the  Committee  who  made  the 
report,  now  under  consideration,  to  substitute,  if  they  could, 
the  labors  of  this  person  or  agent,  for  the  labors  of  the 
Primary  School  Committee.  This  is  the  direct  inference 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  181 

from  the  language  of  the  report,  which  is,  "  It  may  be  urged 
that  the  necessity  of  such  an  appointment  is  superseded  by 
the  establishment  of  the  Primary  School  Committee,  whose 
duty  it  is  to  visit  the  schools,  and  direct  and  superintend 
their  progress.  We  reply,  that  the  schools  are  so  numerous 
as  to  demand,  in  our  opinion,  nearly  the  whole  time  of  a 
single  individual."  That  is,  if  there  is  any  force  in  language, 
it  is  made  the  duty  of  the  Primary  School  Committee  "  to 
visit  their  schools,  direct  and  superintend  their  progress;" 
but,  as  these  schools  are  so  numerous  that  the  ninety  gen 
tlemen  who  are  the  Committee,  either  cannot,  or  do  not,  take 
care  of  them,  therefore,  in  their  opinion,  they  require  nearly 
the  whole  time  of  one  individual  for  the  express  purpose. 
We  are  fortified  in  this  opinion  by  another  circumstance,  to 
which  we  would  now  advert.  In  the  March  number  of  the 
"  Annals  of  Education,"  there  appeared  a  gross  and  false 
attack  upon  the  character  and  management  of  the  Primary 
Schools,  and  upon  the  character  and  fidelity  of  the  Primary 
School  Committee.  In  this  article,  after  many  misrepresent 
ations  of  the  condition  of  our  school-rooms,  and  of  the 
neglect  of  the  Committee  in  this  respect,  —  of  our  books, 
studies  and  the  moral  culture  of  our  pupils,  —  we  have  the 
following  language :  "  We  have  heard  of  late  that  it  is  in 
contemplation,  of  some,  to  secure  the  appointment  of  a  sort 
of  City  Missionary  of  Instruction,  whose  office  it  shall  be  to 
inspect  minutely  all  schools,  in  all  their  circumstances,  and 
report  respecting  the  same  to  the  proper  authority;"  and 
this,  especially,  on  account  of  the  Primary  Schools.  Now, 
in  the  proposed  appointment,  we  have  the  identical  City 
Missionary  of  Instruction,  whose  creation  and  agency  is 
supposed  to  be  necessary,  because  of  the  neglect  of  the 
Primary  School  Board. 

By  this  means  an  opportunity  is  afforded  us  for  the  first 
time  to  meet  these  accusations  in  an  official  manner,  and  give 
them  the  answer  they  require.  It  is  only  necessary  to  allude 


182  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

to  what  this  Committee  has  done  in  past  years,  to  show, 
not  only  their  general  fidelity,  but  that  no  agent,  however 
talented  or  efficient,  could  possibly  perform  the  duty  which 
is  required  of  the  gentlemen  who  compose  this  Board ;  and 
what  is  of  still  more  consequence  to  the  city,  that  there  can 
be  no  necessity  for  the  appointment  of  such  a  salaried  agency, 
when  the  work  can  be  as  well  or  better  done  by  the  responsi 
ble,  intelligent,  and  gratuitous  labors  of  a  voluntary  Commit 
tee.  We  say  this  with  the  less  reserve,  as  the  praise  will 
mainly  be  upon  those  who  are  now  serving  the  public  in  other 
spheres  of  action,  or  on  those  who  have  gone  to  their  final 
award  —  the  Ticknors,  the  Savages,  the  Wells,  the  Grants, 
the  Tappans,  the  Parkmans,  the  Blanchards,  the  Hales,  the 
Emersons,  and  others,  who,  in  previous  years,  have  been  the 
active  and  efficient  members  of  the  Board. 

In  the  first  place,  then,  what  have  this  Committee  done  in 
respect  to  the  procurement  of  suitable  school-rooms  ?  A 
single  glance  at  their  records. will  give  ample  proof  of  their 
fidelity  and  vigilance.  From  1818,  when  the  schools  were 
first  organized,  to  1827,  the  whole  work  of  selecting,  hiring 
and  furnishing  these  rooms,  was  the  business  of  the  District 
Committees.  At  this  period,  when  the  whole  number  thus 
obtained  was  fifty,  an  increasing  difficulty  was  felt  in  obtain 
ing  rooms  of  a  proper  size,  and  of  convenient  location.  A 
Committee  was  therefore  raised  by  the  whole  Board  to  repre 
sent  to  the  City  Government  the  serious  evils  resulting  fro^m 
the  want  of  suitable  rooms,  and  praying  that  measures  might 
be  adopted  to  remedy  the  difficulty.  This  application  was 
not  successful.  In  1828,  another  memorial  was  presented  to 
the  City  Government,  for  an  annual  appropriation  of  $3,000, 
for  the  erection  of  Primary  School-houses ;  but  that  body  was 
not  yet  prepared  to  recognize  the  principle  of  erecting  houses 
for  the  use  of  these  schools.  This  application,  however, 
resulted  in  a  vote  authorizing  the  Committee  to  hire  a  suitable 
number  of  rooms  on  leases  of  ten  years  j  the  city,  and  not  the 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  183 

teacher  as  before,  being  responsible  for  the  rent.  This  power 
was  used  with  great  alacrity  by  the  Committee,  and  to  great 
advantage,  so  that  a  large  number  of  better  rooms  were 
obtained.  But  finding  this  insufficient  for  their  purpose,  they 
memorialized  again  in  1829,  that  "school-rooms  should  be 
purchased  or  built  on  account  of  the  city;"  but  the  city 
authorities  still  had  doubts  of  the  policy  of  erecting  build 
ings  for  this  purpose,  and  the  application  again  failed.  From 
this  time  till  1833,  we  have  the  record  of  frequent  applica 
tions  to  the  City  Government  for  the  use  of  rooms,  not  other 
wise  improved,  such  as  the  unoccupied  rooms  in  Grammar 
School-houses,  gun-houses,  engine-houses,  and  ward-rooms. 
By  this  means,  and  the  use  of  vestries  in  churches,  their  most 
pressing  wants  were  supplied,  and  the  schools  for  the  most 
part  were  well  accommodated.  But  as  the  schools  were  con 
stantly  increasing,  and  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  rooms  be 
came  greater  every  day,  on  account  of  the  increased  value  of 
property,  the  Board,  in  August,  1833,  made  another  applica 
tion  to  the  city  by  a  Committee  of  ten,  "  for  an  appropriation 
of  money  for  the  purpose  of  building  and  furnishing  rooms 
for  the  accommodation  of  Primary  Schools,  whenever  suitable 
opportunities  may  offer  in  any  of  the  Districts."  This  appli 
cation  was  supported  by  all  the  influence  of  the  Board,  both 
without  and  within  the  Council;  and  in  1834,  they  recognized 
the  principle,  and  erected  one  house  at  the  expense  of  the 
city.  In  1835,  an  appropriation  of  $12,500  was  made,  which 
it  was  understood  was  to  be  set  apart  for  this  purpose,  until 
all  the  schools  should  be  suitably  provided  for.  This  sum  has 
been  so  appropriated  and  expended  for  this  purpose  every 
year,  with  the  exception  of  one,  until  of  the  eighty-two 
schools,  there  are  only  a  few  remaining  which  need  better 
rooms.  And  the  Committee  are  prepared  to  say  that  the 
rooms  occupied  by  our  Primary  Schools  have  at  all  times 
been  equal  to,  and  will  now  compare  advantageously,  .with 
those  used  by  any  city  in  the  United  States.  In  view  of 


184  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

the  so  facts,  they  would  ask  if  this  is  such  a  kind  of  neglect 
that  a  special  and  salaried  agent  is  required  to  supply  their 
deficiencies;  or  if  one  were  appointed,  ho  could  do  more, 
or  better? 

So  with  regard  to  books.  When  these  schools  were  first 
established,  few  or  no  books  had  been  published  suitable  for 
children  from  four  to  seven  years  of  age.  A  card,  a  small 
spelling  book,  and  the  New  Testament  were  the  books  origi 
nally  used.  Soon  after,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  Board,  a 
new  spelling  book  was  prepared  by  Mr.  W.  B.  Fowlc,  and 
the  " Rational  Guide  "  was  introduced.  In  1826,  an  "Easy 
Reader "  was  compiled  expressly  for  this  Board  by  Mrs. 
Nathan  Hale,  (Governor  Everett's  sister,)  called  the  "Boston 
Primary  Lessons,"  which  was  introduced  with  a  new  spell 
ing  book,  adapted  to  their  use,  by  Mr.  Lee,  in  the  place  of 
Fowle's,  which  had  been  found  too  difficult.  In  the  same 
year,  the  study  of  arithmetic  was  introduced  for  the  First 
Class,  and  "Emerson's  North  American  Arithmetic  "  adopted. 
In  1827,  a  new  elementary  card  was  introduced;  and  in 
1830,  another  on  the  Edinburgh  Sessional  School  plan  was 
prepared  by  a  Committee  of  the  Board,  and  adopted.  In 
1833,  a  new  reading  book,  "  Blake's  Reader,"  for  the  First 
Class,  in  connexion  with  the  New  Testament,  was  introduced. 
Since  which,  Arithmetic  in  all  the  classes,  a  Numerical  Calcu 
lator,  Slates  for  the  Fourth  Class,  Gallaudet's  Mother's 
Primer,  Abbott's  New  Reading  Books,  and  Pierpont's  Young 
Reader,  have  been  added  to  the  number  of  books  and  the 
means  of  instruction  in  these  schools. 

Now  these  are  facts  hastily  gleaned  from  our  records,  in 
relation  to  this  branch  of  the  subject;  and  your  Committee 
would  confidently  ask  if  these  are  such  evidences  of  neglect, 
as  to  require  a  special  agent  to  increase  their  number  or  im 
prove  their  character  ? 

It  is  the  same  with  regard  to  studies.  The  Committee 
have  always  regarded  these  schools  as  strictly  preparatory  to 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  185 

our  Grammar  Schools,  and  have  uniformly  acted  upon  the 
principle,  that  the  studies  provided  for  in  the  books  above 
named,  were  amply  sufficient  for  a  class  of  pupils  from  four  to 
seven  years  of  age.  They  find  them,  upon  comparison,  quite 
equal  in  all  respects  to  those  in  the  schools  of  New  York,  or 
those  in  the  celebrated  schools  of  Prussia,  for  children  from 
six  to  eight  years  of  age ;  and  quite  sufficient  to  qualify  them 
for  admission  to  our  next  higher  grade  of  schools.  It  is 
notorious,  indeed,  and  has  been  so  for  years,  that  the  pupils 
of  the  Primary  Schools  lose  ground  after  entering  the 
Grammar  Schools,  as  the  studies  of  the  latter  are  not  in 
advance  of  the  former.  As  a  proof  of  this,  we  have  the  tes 
timony  of  one  of  the  grammar  masters,  who,  in  answer  to  a 
recent  circular  from  the  Grammar  School  Committee,  uses  the 
following  language :  Many  of  the  pupils  offered  from  the  Pri 
mary  Schools  are  well  qualified  to  take  a  higher  rank  in  the 
Grammar  Schools  than  the  lowest  divisions  of  those  schools ; 
and  are  to  be  considered  as  better  capable  to  study  the 
higher  branches  than  those  divisions."  This  is  confirmed  in 
a  different  way,  by  another  of  those  teachers,  who  says : 
"  Generally  speaking,  however,  I  must  do  the  teachers  of  the 
Primary  Schools  the  justice  to  acknowledge  that  the  children 
that  come  from  those  schools,  are,  for  the  most  part,  letter 
taught  in  the  rudiments  than  those  of  the  same  age,  who 
come  from  private  schools,  or  from  the  country."  Another 
of  these  masters  proffers  the  following  testimony,  which  will 
speak  for  itself:  "In  conclusion,  I  must  do  the  schools  the 
justice  to  say,  that,  judging  by  the  children,  who  come  from 
them  to  the  Hancock  School,  and  by  my  recent  visits  to  them, 
<  they  appear  to  be  admirably  conducted,  and  to  stand  in  no 
need  of  any  change  important  enough  to  be  called  a  reform. 
The  discipline  appears  to  be  excellent,  and  the  children  seem 
to  be  perfectly  happy."  Your  Committee  do  not  mean  to  be 
understood  by  these  remarks,  that  they  consider  these  schools 
as  by  any  means  perfect ;  or  that  these  grammar  masters,  in 

24 


186  ANNALS    OF   THE   TRLMARY   SCHOOLS. 

other  parts  of  their  communications,  do  not  speak  of  defi 
ciencies  and  faults  that  need  correction;  but  they  do  mean 
to  ask,  with  such  opinions  before  them,  as  it  regards  the 
general  results  of  our  labors,  coming  from  those  who  may 
be  considered  as  impartial  witnesses,  whether  it  is  probable 
that  the  appointing  of  an  agent  to  supersede  the  Primary 
School  Board,  will  produce  better  results  than  has  been,  and 
is  now  obtained. 

There  is  one  other  portion  of  their  duties  to  which  it  is 
necessary  to  advert  for  a  single  moment.  It  is  made  the 
duty  of  the  Primary  School  Committee  to  «  visit  the  schools 
and  superintend  their  progress."  In  the  discharge  of  this 
duty  the  Rules  require  a  monthly  examination  of  one  school 
from  each  member  of  the  Board.  In  recurring  to  one  of  our 
latest  reports,  we  find  those  examinations  for  six  months,  or 
one  half  a  year,  to  have  been  three  hundred  and  forty-nine,  or 
about  seven  hundred  for  one  year.  Besides  these  examina 
tions,  which  usually  occupy  from  one  to  two  hours  each,  there 
were  made  to  the  schools  by  the  several  District  Committees, 
four  hundred  and  forty-seven  visits,  or  about  nine  hundred  in 
a  year,  giving  an  average  of  seven  examinations  and  eleven 
visits  to  each  school  per  annum.  Besides  these,  there  are  the 
Semi-Annual  examinations  of  the  Standing  Committee,  who 
give  two  or  three  hours  to  each  school  twice  a  year,  occupy 
ing  the  best  portion  of  eighty  days  annually.  Suppose  this 
agent  to  be  appointed,  what  would  be  the  result  in  this  one 
particular  ?  A  slight  calculation  will  make  it  apparent. 
After  deducting  Sabbath  days,  Wednesday  and  Saturday 
afternoons,  and  vacation  days,  it  will  appear  that  the  schools 
are  kept  about  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  days  in  a  year. 
Let  this  agent  then  visit  and  examine  these  schools  every  day 
in  the  year,  and  both  parts  of  the  day,  when  they  are  kept,  so 
as  to  occupy  his  whole  time ;  and  the  total  number  of  his 
examinations  could  only  be  four  hundred  and  seventy-two,  in 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  187 

contrast  with  seven  hundred,  now  made  by  the  Committee,  — 
which  number  is  independent  of  their  ordinary  visits,  and  the 
thorough  examinations  of  the  Standing  Committee.  We  say 
nothing  now  of  the  advantage  of  a  Local  Committee,  who  it 
may  be,  is  a  parent  to  some  of  the  children,  or  a  neighbor 
to  all ;  we  say  nothing  now  of  the  necessity  of  having  a  Com 
mittee,  whose  residences  are  near  the  schools,  with  whom  the 
teachers  can  advise  in  any  case  of  a  difficulty;  we  say 
nothing  of  the  influence  of  such  a  Committee  with  the  whole 
community  in  giving  confidence  to  the  public  in  the  system 
they  support;  we  only  state  these  simple,  undeniable  facts 
drawn  from  public  documents,  and  ask  whether  there  can 
be  a  necessity  for  the  creation  of  such  an  office,  or  the 
appointment  of  such  an  agent,  the  effect  of  which,  if  not 
intended  to  supersede  their  labors,  would  be  to  paralyze 
their  efforts,  to  produce  an  apathy,  and  to  render  their 
office  apparently  a  nominal,  if  not  a  useless  one. 

Your  Committee  entertaining  an  undoubtirig  assurance 
of  the  willingness  and  fidelity  of  the  members  of  the  Board 
to  perform  the  duty  assigned  them  in  time  to  come,  as  in 
time  past,  answer,  without  any  hesitation,  in  the  negative. 

It  now  remains  for  them  very  briefly  to  consider  the 
second  part  of  the  proposition,  in  relation  to  a  Normal 
School.  The  idea  of  a  Normal  School,  or  a  school  for 
qualifying  teachers,  is  rather  a  new  one  to  this  commu 
nity.  They  have  been  established,  however,  in  other  coun 
tries,  especially  in  Prussia  and  France,  with  success  and 
advantage ;  and  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  their  estab 
lishment  in  this  country  would  be  attended  with  correspond 
ing  good  results.  They  are  intended  to  make  the  business 
of  school-keeping  as  much  of  a  profession  as  that  of  law, 
medicine,  or  theology,  and  a  peculiar  course  of  study  as  neces 
sary  to  its  successful  practice,  as  either  of  those.  We,  there 
fore,  express  the  hope  that  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Education  may  be  enabled  to  establish  one  or  more  of  these 


188  ANNALS    OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

schools  in  the  State,  so  as  to  test  satisfactorily  their  practi 
cal  utility.  But  whether  it  is  necessary  or  expedient  for  this 
city,  in  her  municipal  character,  to  establish  or  maintain  such 
an  institution  at  her  own  expense,  as  your  Committee  do  not 
understand  that  any  portion  of  the  legislative  provision  or 
fund  for  this  purpose  will  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of 
this  city,  is  a  question  upon  which  this  Committee  are  not 
called  upon  to  express  an  opinion.  For  themselves,  as  a 
Board,  they  are  not  prepared  to  entertain  or  carry  forward 
sucli  a  proposition;  but  if  the  other  School  Committee,  or 
any  of  the  city  authorities,  shall  deem  it  expedient  to  estab 
lish  such  an  institution,  they  are  ready  to  proffer  them  any 
aid  which  it  is  in  their  power  to  give."  *  *  *  * 

This  report  and  the  accompanying  resolutions,  which 
embodied  the  views  and  sentiments  expressed  in  the 
report,  were  adopted  by  the  Board  at  a  special  meet 
ing,  held  July  3,  1838,  and  we  do  not  find  that  any 
further  action  was  taken  by  the  Grammar  Board  upon 
these  subjects  at  that  time. 

In  pursuance  of  an  idea  which  had  been  suggested 
by  the  Standing  Committee,  the  Primary  Boards,  at  this 
time,  established  a  "  Model  School,"  for  the  purpose 
of  trying  experiments  in  Primary  School  instruction. 
This  school  was  placed  in  charge  of  a  Special  Com 
mittee,  who,  after  due  deliberation,  and  with  reference 
u  to  the  size  of  the  room,  its  central  situation,  and  the 
character  of  its  teacher,"  selected  the  school  in  District 
No.  4,  kept  in  the  Derne  street  school-house,  by  Miss 
Mary  Torrin.  This  school  was  continued  with  varied 
success  until  1842,  when  it  was  abandoned,  as  not 
having  proved  so  advantageous  to  the  schools  as  had 
been  anticipated. 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS  189 

A  vote  was  also  passed,  authorizing  the  division  of 
any  district  by  the  District  Committee,  when  the  same 
shall  contain  more  than  nine  schools. 

1839. 

MARCH  5.  The  list  of  members  of  the  Committee, 
appointed  by  the  Grammar  School  Board,  was  read 
by  the  Secretary,  and  he  was  instructed  to  place  the 
same  on  file.  The  Board  then  proceeded  to  ballot 
for  a  Chairman,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Mr. 
JOSIAH  F.  BUMSTEAD.  Mr.  Bmnstead  having  declined 
serving,  GEORGE  W.  OTIS,  Jr.,  was  elected  Chairman, 
and  JOSEPH  CURTIS  was  reflected  Secretary. 

Standing  Committee  —  E.  W.  Bay  ley,  Chairman;  F.  A. 
Sumner,  Secretary  ;  George  Rogers,  J.  F.  Bumstead, 
George  W.  Otis,  Jr.,  Augustus  A.  Gould,  J.  B.  Steb- 
bins,  Francis  Brown,  J.  W.  Bourne,  Samuel  McBurney. 

Committee  of  Conference  —  George  W.  Otis,  Jr.,  F.  A. 
Sumner,  J.  F.  Bumstead. 

Among  other  business  acted  upon  at  this  meeting, 
a  Resolution  was  adopted,  "  That  when  any  school  shall 
have  remained  for  a  considerable  time,  with  a  smaller 
number  of  pupils  than  it  can  accommodate,  the  cause 
shall  be  made  a  particular  subject  of  inquiry  by  the 
District  Committee,  and  a  remedy  applied,  either  by 
changing  its  location  or  its  teacher." 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board,  June  4, 
the  Committee  on  Books  reported  in  favor  of  intro 
ducing  "My  First  School  Book,"  prepared  expressly 
as  a  spelling  book,  for  the  Third  and  Fourth  Classes, 
by  Josiah  F.  Bumstead,  which  was  adopted,  and  ordered 


190  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

to  be  used,  instead  of  the  a  Mother's  Primer,"  in  those 
classes. 

A  petition  of  Samuel  P.  Scott  and  others,  to  have 
sewing  and  knitting  taught  in  the  Public  Schools,  was 
referred  by  the  Grammar  School  Committee  to  this 
Board,  and  after  being  read,  was  referred  to  the  Stand 
ing  Committee,  who  subsequently  reported  that  it  was 
unnecessary  to  take  any  action  on  the  subject,  as  these 
branches  of  domestic  education  were  already  attended 
to  in  the  Primary  Schools. 

The  efforts  of  those  who  desired  to  supersede  the 
labors  of  the  Primary  School  Committee,  by  the 
appointment  of  a  Superintendent,  not  having  accom 
plished  their  object  through  the  intervention  of  the 
Grammar  Board,  appear  to  have  brought  the  sub 
ject  before  the  Common  Council.  Upon  learning  this, 
the  Primary  Board  unanimously  adopted  the  follow 
ing  preamble  and  vote,  viz. : 

"Whereas,  the  subject  of  the  organization  of  the  Primary 
School  Board,  and  other  matters  relating  thereto,  have  been 
referred  to  a  Committee  of  the  City  Council;  and  whereas, 
the  said  Committee  may  desire  to  communicate  with  this 
Board,  in  an  official  manner,  on  the  subject  matter  of  their 
appointment ;  and  whereas,  this  Board  is  solicitous  to  facili 
tate,  in  every  proper  way,  the  labors  of  that  Committee; 
therefore, 

Voted,  That  Messrs.  Pray,  Hartshorn,  Bumstead  and  Otis, 
be  a  Committee  to  confer  and  communicate  in  the  most 
ample  and  free  manner,  with  the  aforesaid  Committee  of 
the  Council,  if  desired,  on  all  the  subjects  appertaining  to 
their  appointment,  and  all  others  which  may  be  brought 
under  consideration  in  connection  with  the  accountability, 
proceedings  and  duties  of  this  Committee. 


ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS.        191 


1840. 

The  regular  quarterly  meeting  was  held,  March  3, 
and  the  members  of  the  Board  having  been  notified 
of  their  appointment,  they  proceeded  to  organize  their 
body  by  the  choice  of  officers  and  Committees  for  the 
current  year. 

Chairman  —  EICHARD  W.  BAYLEY. 

Secretary  —  JOSEPH  CURTIS. 

Standing  Committee  —  Josiah  F.  Bumstead,  Chairman; 
Frederic  A.  Sumner,  Secretary ;  E.  W.  Bayley,  Francis 
Brown,  Wm.  D.  Ticknor,  Edmund  Jackson,  J.  B.  Steb- 
bins,  Samuel  McBurney,  J.  "W.  Bourne,  Wm.  P.  Jarvis. 

Committee  of  Conference  —  E.  W.  Bayley,  F.  A.  Sum- 
ner,  J.  F.  Bumstead. 

The  thanks  of  the  Board  were  presented  to  Dr. 
GEORGE  "W.  OTIS,  Jr.,  "  for  the  able  and  satisfactory  man 
ner  in  which  he  had  discharged  the  duties  of  Chair 
man  of  the  Board  for  several  years." 

It  was  also  "Voted,  That  the  Standing  Committee 
be  authorized  to  make  arrangements  for  furnishing  the 
teachers  of  the  Primary  Schools  with  instruction  in 
vocal  music,  provided  it  can  be  done  without  expense." 

In  conformity  with  this  vote,  the  Standing  Commit 
tee  appointed  a  Sub-Committee  to  confer  with  Mr. 
Lowell  Mason  on  this  subject,  and  make  the  necessary 
arrangements  for  carrying  the  same  into  effect.  This 
Sub-Committee  reported,  April  28,  that  the  conference 
with  Mr.  Mason  was  favorable  to  the  project ;  that  they 
had  accordingly  sent  a  circular  to  the  teachers,  and  that 
two  meetings  had  already  been  held,  which  had  been 


192  ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

0 

attended  by  about  two-thirds  of  the  teachers  connected 
with  the  Primary  Schools. 

By  a  vote  of  the  Board,  September  1,  u  the  Stand 
ing  Committee  was  directed  to  confer  with  the  Mayor 
on  the  subject  of  providing  each  of  the  Primary 
Schools  with  a  Blackboard ;  and  if  necessary,  to  peti 
tion  the  City  Council  for  an  appropriation  to  accom 
plish  the  same." 

The  same  Committee  were  also  authorized  to  apply 
to  the  Common  Council  for  the  use  of  their  room 
in  the  City  Hall,  for  the  future  meetings  of  the  Pri 
mary  Board.  This  request  was  granted,  and  the  next 
meeting,  September  15,  was  held  in  that  place. 

A  petition  of  sundry  inhabitants  of  Section  1,  East 
Boston,  for  the  establishment  of  a  new  school  in  that 
section,  having  been  sent  to  the  Standing  Committee ; 
and  there  appearing  to  be  good  reasons  for  another 
school,  they  recommended  to  the  whole  Board  that 
a  new  school  be  established  agreeably  to  the  tenor 
of  the  petition. 

In  October,  the  teacher  in  school  No.  2,  East  Boston, 
having  left  the  care  of  her  school  to  a  substitute,  who 
was  reported  as  unqualified,  the  Standing  Committee 
appointed  their  Secretary  to  investigate  the  circum 
stances;  and  upon  his  report  the  teacher  and  substi 
tute  were  both  discharged,  and  another  teacher  elected. 

1841. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Grammar  Board,  January  12, 
the  members  of  the  Primary  School  Committee  were 
appointed,  and  at  their  regular  quarterly  meeting, 
March  2,  the  Board  was  organized  as  follows : 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  193 

Chairman  —  EICHARD  H.  BAYLEY. 

Secretary  —  JOSEPH  CURTIS. 

Standing  Committee  —  J.  F.  Bumstead,  Chairman;  F.  A. 
Sumner,  Secretary ;  R  W.  Bayley,  W.  D.  Ticknor,  S. 
McBurney,  W.  P.  Jarvis,  Alvan  Simonds,  A.  D.  Par 
ker,  Samuel  Wheeler,  George  Bemis. 

The  Committee  of  Conference  were  all  reflected. 

Mr.  LEWIS  G.  PRAY  having  sent  in  his  resignation  to 
the  Board  at  this  meeting,  the  following  preamble  and 
resolutions  were  adopted  as  a  just  tribute  to  his  devoted 
services,  for  the  interest  of  the  Primary  Schools,  for 
nearly  twenty  years : 

Whereas,  this  Board  is  notified  of  the  resignation  of  LEWIS 
G.  PRAY,  Esq.,  who  has  so  long  and  so  faithfully  discharged 
his  duties  in  the  several  departments  of  this  Board, 

Resolved,  That  in  view  of  his  past  services,  the  Board 
cannot  part  with  Mr.  Pray  without  expressing  to  him  their 
strong  and  deep  sense  of  obligation,  as  well  for  themselves 
as  for  the  community  at  large,  for  his  untiring;  benevolent 
and  efficient  exertions  in  the  cause  which  this  Board  has  for 
its  object  to  forward. 

Resolved,  That  while  we  wish  to  make  no  invidious  distinc 
tions,  we  know  of  no  one  to  whom  the  Primary  School  sys 
tem  in  this  city  is  more  largely  indebted  for  its  present 
advancement  and  completeness  than  to  Mr.  Pray ;  and  that, 
in  losing  him,  the  Primary  Schools  have  lost  a  long-tried  and 
faithful  friend. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  forward  to  Mr.  Pray  a  copy  of 
these  resolutions,  and  transcribe  the  same  on  the  record  book 
of  the  Board. 

The  Grammar  School  Committee  having  extended 
the  June  vacation  of  their  schools,  a  special  meeting  of 
the  Primary  Board  was  held,  May  21,  to  consider  the 


194  ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

expediency  of  making  their  vacations  correspond  with 
those  granted  to  the  Grammar  Schools.  After  con 
siderable  discussion,  it  was  decided  that  any  increase 
in  the  vacations  of  the  Primary  Schools  was  inexpe 
dient,  and  the  wiiole  subject  was  indefinitely  postponed. 

At  a  special  meeting,  June  15,  a  Committee  reported 
in  favor  of  giving  the  reports  of  the  Standing  Commit 
tee  a  more  permanent  form ;  and  Messrs.  Bayley,  Bum- 
stead,  Ingraham,  Marvin  and  Flint,  were  appointed  "  a 
Committee  to  collect  and  put  into  substantial  binding, 
all  the  reports  of  the  Standing  Committees,  (and  of  the 
District  Committees,)  and  all  other  reports  and  papers 
connected  with  the  Board,  which,  in  their  judgment,  it 
is  desirable  thus  to  preserve."  The  same  Committee 
were  "  instructed  to  request  from  the  City  Government 
a  suitable  place  of  deposit  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the 
various  records,  reports,  £c.,  belonging  to  the  Board, 
which  are  not  of  immediate  use." 

The  Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  Standing  Committee, 
compiled  from  the  reports  of  the  teachers,  and  of  the 
District  Committees,  was  prepared  and  read  by  Mr. 
JAMES  B.  Dow,  at  the  quarterly  meeting,  September  7. 
Mr.  Dow  also  offered  a  resolution,  that  the  teachers  be 
permitted  to  use  the  spelling  book  prepared  by  Mr. 
Bumstead,  entitled,  "  Spelling  and  Thinking  Combined," 
as  a  substitute  for  "Lee's  Spelling  Book,"  which  was 
referred  to  the  Committee  on  School  Books,  who  re 
ported,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  September  21,  in  favor 
of  its  adoption  in  the  First  and  Second  Classes,  and 
that  it  be  introduced  into  the  schools  immediately  after 
the  ensuing  semi-annual  examination. 

This  report  was  accepted,  and  the  recommendations 


ANNALS    OF  THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  195 

adopted.  At  this  meeting  a  vote  was  adopted,  by 
which  the  schools  at  East  Boston  was  constituted  a  sep 
arate  district,  and  were  authorized  to  be  organized 
under  the  name  of  District  11.  Up  to  this  time  the 
schools  at  East  Boston  had  been  under  the  special 
charge  of  the  Standing  Committee,  by  whom  the 
teachers  and  Local  Committees  were  chosen. 

At  the  opening  of  the  quarterly  meeting,  December 
7,  the  Chairman  announced  the  decease  of  Mr.  JOSEPH 
CURTIS,  late  Secretary  of  the  Board,  and  paid  a  feeling 
tribute  to  his  worth ;  and  on  motion  of  Mr.  Marvin, 
the  following  votes  were  unanimously  adopted : 

Voted,  That  this  Board  deeply  sympathize  with  the  be 
reaved  family  of  our  late  Secretary,  Mr.  Joseph  Curtis,  and 
would  cheerfully  and  unanimously  express  our  feelings  of 
regret  that  we  have  been  deprived  of  his  services,  which  we 
were  happy  to  testify,  were  always  promptly,  unremittingly 
and  faithfully  rendered. 

Voted,  That  the  above  be  communicated  to  the  family  of 
Mr.  Curtis,  by  the  Secretary. 

The  Board  then  elected  Mr.  ALVAN  SIMONDS  as 
Secretary. 

1842. 

The  Board  was  appointed  January  11,  and  on  the 
1st  of  March  was  organized  as  follows : 

Chairman  —  R  W.  BAYLEY. 

Secretary  —  ALVAN  SIMONDS. 

Standing  Committee  —  J.  F.  Bumstead,  Chairman ;  F. 
A.  Sumner,  Secretary ;  R.  W.  Bayley,  S.  McBurney, 
William  P.  Jarvis,  Alvan  Simonds.  A.  D.  Parker,  James 


19G  ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

B.  Dow,  George  Bemis,  Joseph  TV.  Ingraham,  Otis  A. 
Skinner. 

The  Committee  of  Conference  were  all  reflected. 

The  Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  Standing  Committee 
was  made  by  Mr.  Ingraham,  June  7,  which  was  recom 
mitted  to  the  Standing  Committee  for  revision  and  con 
densation,  and  subsequently  accepted  by  the  Board  at 
an  adjourned  meeting,  June  10.  At  this  adjourned 
meeting  it  was  "  Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Board  be 
presented  to  Mrs.  Minot,  (lady  of  William  Minot,  Esq.,) 
for  her  generous  and  disinterested  services  in  giving  a 
series  of  lessons  on  drawing  to  the  teachers  of  the  Pri 
mary  Schools."  This  tribute  of  respect,  on  the  part  of 
the  Board,  was  worthily  bestowed  upon  a  lady,  who,  for 
two  hours  a  week,  for  three  months,  had  freely  devoted 
her  time  and  talents  to  the  instruction  of  the  teachers 
in  an  interesting  branch  of  education. 

By  a  vote  of  the  Board,  September  6,  the  vacations 
in  the  Primary  Schools  were  made  to  conform  with 
those  in  the  Grammar  Schools. 

SEPTEMBER  20.  The  Chairman  reported,  verbally,  that 
the  Committee  appointed,  June  15,  1841,  to  procure  of 
the  city  authorities  a  room  for  the  deposit  of  the  books 
and  papers  of  the  Board,  had  obtained  the  room  form 
erly  occupied  by  the  Directors  of  the  House  of  Refor 
mation  in  the  City  Hall.  Mr.  Ingraham,  from  the  same 
Committee,  reported  that  some  progress  had  been  made 
in  collecting  the  papers  and  reports  from  the  various 
districts,  and  asked  for  farther  time,  which  was  granted. 

It  appears,  however,  that  this  duty  was  never  com 
pleted  ;  and  it  is  probable  that  the  Committee  found  it 
impossible  to  collect  a  perfect  file  of  the  papers  and 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  197 

reports ;  and  after  making  the  collection  as  complete 
as  they  could,  they  seem  to  have  abandoned  the 
undertaking. 

The  schools  had  been  gradually  increasing  in  num 
ber,  and  the  labors  of  the  Standing  Committee  as 
steadily  becoming  more  and  more  arduous,  until  it 
became  necessary  that  some  relief  should  be  obtained ; 
as  the  number  of  members  of  the  Standing  Committee 
was  limited  by  the  number  of  districts,  several  attempts 
had  been  made  to  increase  the  number,  but  without 
success. 

In  August,  1841,  the  Standing  Committee,  on  motion 
of  Win.  D.  Ticknor,  appointed  a  Sub-Committee  to  con 
sider  and  report  upon  some  plan  of  relief.  The  subject 
was  frequently  discussed  by  the  Standing  Committee, 
and  finally  resulted  in  a  recommendation  to  the  Board 
to  divide  the  schools  into  seventeen  districts.  This  was 
presented  to  the  Board  at  their  meeting,  September  20, 
1842,  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee,  and 
the  following  votes  were  passed  : 

Voted,  That  Districts  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5  and  8,  meet  and 
divide  themselves,  each  into  two  districts,  as  nearly  equal  in 
the  number  of  schools  as  possible,  and  organize  themselves 
by  the  choice  of  a  Chairman  and  Secretary  of  each  district, 
renumbering  the  schools,  and  report  the  same  to  the  Secre 
tary  of  the  Standing  Committee,  on  or  before  the  third  Tues 
day  in  October  next. 

Voted,  That  the  Standing  Committee,  after  receiving  these 
reports,  proceed  to  number  the  districts,  beginning  with  the 
north  part  of  the  city,  and  proceeding  to  the  south. 

The  Standing  Committee  then  made  a  nomination 
of  six  members  of  their  body  for  the  new  districts, 


198  ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

and  Lewis  G.  Pray,  Aaron  Ordway,  Win.  Dall,  Lemuel 
Capen,  Nathan  Metcalf,  Jr.,  and  Frederic  A.  Eddy,  were 
chosen. 

Mr.  Pray,  however,  declined  to  accept,  and  the  Stand 
ing  Committee  requested  Dr.  JOHN  ODIN,  Jr.,  to  examine 
District  No.  17,  and  to  make  the  abstract  of  the  several 
reports  for  the  use  of  the  Board.  These  duties  were 
performed  in  a  manner  so  acceptable,  that  after  the 
adoption  of  the  report  by  the  Board,  at  the  quarterly 
meeting  in  December,  it  was  "  Voted,  That  the  thanks 
of  the  Board  be  presented  to  Dr.  John  Odin,  Jr.,  for 
the  able  manner  in  which  he  has  discharged  the  duty 
of  preparing  the  semi-annual  report." 

At  the  request  of  the  Grammar  School  Committee, 
the  Board  authorized  District  No.  3  to  establish  a  new 
school  for  colored  children. 

1843. 

The  members  of  the  Primary  Board  having  been 
notified  of  their  appointment  by  the  Grammar  School 
Committee,  January  10,  held  their  annual  meeting  for 
the  organization  of  the  Board,  March  7,  and  the  follow 
ing  officers  were  unanimously  reflected  : 

Chairman  —  RICHARD  W.  BAYLEY. 

Secretary  —  ALVAN  SIMONDS. 

Standing  Committee  —  J.  F.  Bumstead,  Chairman;  F. 
A.  Sumner,  Secretary  ;  S.  McBurney,  Alvan  Simonds, 
James  B.  Dow,  Otis  A.  Skinner,  W.  P.  Jarvis,  A.  D. 
Parker,  R  W.  Bayley,  George  Bemis,  I.  W.  Ingraham, 
Lemuel  Capen,  John  Odin,  Jr.,  Wm.  Dall,  Nathan  Met- 
calf  Jr.,  Aaron  Ordway,  Frederic  A.  Eddy. 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  199 

The  Committee  on  Conference  were  also  reflected. 

The  Chairman  reported,  that  under  a  vote  of  the 
Board,  December  6,  1842,  the  Committee  appointed  to 
apply  to  the  City  Government  for  an  appropriation  to 
furnish  each  of  the  Primary  Schools  with  a  clock,  had 
held  a  consultation  with  some  members  of  the  City 
Council,  and  that  the  Committee  deemed  it  inexpedient 
for  the  Board  to  make  the  application  at  the  present 
time. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  March  3,  1842, 
the  sum  of  $15  was  appropriated  to  every  school  dis 
trict  in  the  Commonwealth,  to  be  expended  in  books, 
for  a  School  District  Library ;  provided  that  there  should 
be  raised  or  appropriated  a  similar  sum  in  each  school 
district  for  the  same  object,  by  the  cities  or  towns  in 
which  the  districts  were  located.  But,  in  the  city  of 
Boston  and  some  others  of  the  cities  and  towns,  the 
schools  were  not  divided  into  districts,  so  as  to  receive 
any  advantage  from  this  appropriation  by  the  State ; 
and  to  obviate  this,  the  act  of  March  3,  1842,  was 
amended,  by  extending  the  provisions  of  this  act  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  give  as  many  times  fifteen  dollars 
to  every  such  city  or  town  as  the  number  sixty  is  con 
tained,  exclusive  of  fractions,  in  the  number  of  children 
between  the  ages  of  four  and  sixteen  years  in  said  city 
or  town,  on  condition  that  an  equal  sum  be  raised  by 
the  town  or  city. 

This  amendment  was  passed  March  7,  1843,  and  on 
the  14th  of  the  same  month,  the  Primary  Board  ap 
pointed  Messrs.  Ingraham,  Snelling  and  Bumstead,  a 
Committee  to  take  into  consideration  this  law  of  the 
Commonwealth,  in  relation  to  school  libraries,  and 


200  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

authorizing  them  to  communicate  with  the  City  Gov 
ernment  in  relation  to  this  law,  in  connection  with 
the  Primary  Schools.  It  appears,  however,  that  no 
appropriation  was  made  by  the  City  Council,  which 
was  necessary  to  secure  to  the  schools  a  participation 
in  this  bounty  of  the  State ;  and  we  believe  that  no 
advantage  accrued  to  our  schools  from  any  of  the 
acts  passed  by  the  Legislature,  for  the  encourage 
ment  of  school  libraries,  although  a  second  amend 
ment  was  passed  March  25,  1845,  with  special  reference 
to  this  subject,  in  connection  with  the  several  grades 
of  schools  in  Boston. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting,  March  14,  a  communica 
tion  was  received  from  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  (MARTIN 
BRIMMER,)  stating  that  one  hundred  copies  of  a  book 
entitled,  "The  School  and  the  Schoolmaster,"  were 
at  the  order  of  the  Board  for  distribution  among  the 
Primary  Schools.  It  being  understood  that  these  books 
were  a  present  from  the  Mayor,  on  motion  of  Mr.  B.  P. 
Richardson,  the  thanks  of  the  Board  were  tendered  to 
Mr.  Brimmer  for  his  liberal  and  acceptable  donation. 
The  Board  also  "  Voted,  That  after  having  the  number 
of  the  school  and  district  stamped  upon  the  covers, 
one  copy  should  be  sent  by  the  Secretary  to  each  mem 
ber  of  the  Board,  to  be  deposited  and  kept  in  their 
several  schools;  and  that  the  Chairman  or  Secretary 
of  the  Board  supply  every  new  school  established 
during  the  present  year  with  a  copy  of  the  "School 
and  Schoolmaster,"  bound  and  lettered  in  the  same 
manner. 

The  subject  of  proper  books  for  the  several  classes, 
had  for  a  long  time  earnestly  engaged  the  attention 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  201 

of  the  Standing  and  Book  Committees,  under  whose 
direction  several  had  been  specially  prepared  and  suc 
cessfully  introduced  into  the  schools.  It  was,  however, 
desirable  that  more  order  and  system  should  be  intro 
duced  into  the  classification  and  arrangement  of  all 
the  books ;  and  after  a  careful  examination  of  the 
various  books  which  had  been  specially  prepared  for 
the  use  of  Primary  Schools,  the  Book  Committee, 
through  Dr.  HENRY  G.  CLARK,  presented  their  report 
to  the  Board,  December  5,  from  which  we  select  the 
following  remarks,  defining  the  views  of  the  Commit 
tee,  and  their  reasons  for  recommending  a  change  in 
the  books: 

In  pursuance  with  their  duty,  the  Committee  have  been 
particularly  struck  with  the  want  of  adaptation  of  several 
of  the  books  to  accomplish  the  purposes  for  which  they 
were  designed.  These  your  Committee  understand  'to  be, 
to  furnish  an  easy,  systematic  and  certain  means  for  giving 
to  pupils  of  from  four  to  seven  years  of  age,  [by  the  aid 
of  competent  teachers,]  such  an  acquaintance  with  the 
printed  characters  of  our  language,  so  that  in  its  simpler 
combinations  they  shall  be  able  to  read  it  with  a  good 
degree  of  distinctness,  readiness  and  propriety.  We  do 
not  understand  that  the  design  of  primary  instruction  is 
to  teach  the  principles  of  natural  or  moral  science,  nor  do 
we  believe  it  to  be  proper  or  expedient  to  furnish  to  these 
young  and  immature  minds  elaborate  treatises  upon  the 
'  structure  of  language,  accompanied  with  a  full  set  of  expres- 
sional  arbitrary  signs,  a  knowledge  of  which  is  as  difficult 
to  acquire  and  retain  as  that  of  the  twenty-six  letters  of 
the  alphabet. 


202  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

The  Committee,  after  a  critical  examination  of  the 
merits  of  the  books,  prepared  by  six  different  authors 
for  Primary  Schools,  conclude  their  report  in  favor 
of  those  prepared  by  Mr.  Josiah  F.  Bumstead.  Of 
these  books,  the  Committee  say: 

But  by  far  the  best  books  which  we  have  examined,  are 
the  concluding  numbers  of  a  scries  of  "  Reading  Books  for 
the  Primary  Schools,"  prepared  by  a  member  of  this  Board, 
whose  experience,  taste  and  good  judgment  well  qualify  him 
for  a  task  he  has  so  ably  accomplished.  These  books  are 
intended  for  the  use  of  the  First  and  Second  Classes,  and 
are  a  continuation  of  the  books,  some  time  since  introduced 
into  the  Third  and  Fourth.  They  do  not  contain,  as  do  some 
of  the  other  books  named  in  this  report,  pages  of  labored 
disquisition  upon  the  art  of  reading,  spelling  and  pronounc 
ing  the  English  language ,  but  they  do  what  is  much  better, — 
teach  by  good  examples,  —  practice  instead  of  preach.  The 
lessons  are  thoroughly  digested,  and  adopted  from  the  best 
sources.  There  is  a  unity  and  simplicity  in  the  gradations 
from  simple  to  difficult,  which  is  admirable.  The  lessons  and 
chapters  are  judiciously  arranged  for  every-day  use,  the  selec 
tions  are  of  the  most  interesting  and  excellent  character,  and 
the  mechanical  execution,  in  paper,  printing,  and  binding,  is 
of  the  first  order,  and  we  believe,  for  a  school-book,  entirely 
unequalled. 

The  fact  that  these  books  are  written  and  published  in 
Boston  by  members  of  this  Board,  ought  not  to  be  omitted, 
as  it  is  a  sufficient  guaranty  that  they  will  always  remain  to 
a  certain  extent  under  our  own  control,  and,  without  doubt, 
receive  all  the  alterations  and  improvements  which  time  and 
experience  may  dictate. 

For  these  reasons,  the  Committee  unanimously  re 
commended  the  adoption  of  "  Bumstead's  Second  and 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  203 

Third  Reading  Book,"  in  place  of  those  used  in  the 
First  and  Second  Classes.  This  report  was  accepted, 
and  the  recommendation  adopted  by  the  Board ;  and 
from  this  time  the  series  of  books  thus  introduced,  have 
been  exclusively  used  in  all  of  our  Primary  Schools. 

That  this  series  of  school-books  should  have  retained 
possession  of  our  schools  for  so  long  a  period,  will  not 
excite  surprise,  when  we  consider  the  fact  that  the 
pledges  made  in  their  behalf  by  the  Book  Committee, 
on  their  introduction,  have  been  most  honorably  ful 
filled,  and  that  they  have  been,  to  all  intents  and  pur 
poses,  under  the  control  of  the  Board  and  its  Commit 
tees.  The  author,  Mr.  Bumstead,  and  the  publisher, 
Mr.  T.  R.  Marvin,  to  whose  public  spirit  we  are  also 
much  indebted  for  their  compilation,  were  members  of 
the  Board ;  and  every  suggestion  which  was  made  by 
the  Standing  Committee  or  members  of  the  Board,  in 
regard  to  the  matter,  or  in  the  execution  of  the 
mechanical  portions,  were  always  cheerfully  received, 
and  the  improvements  as  promptly  adopted  as  circum 
stances  and  the  interests  of  the  schools  would  allow. 

That  these  books  have  not  been  more  extensively 
introduced  into  similar  schools  in  other  places,  does  not 
arise,  as  we  believe,  from  any  want  of  intrinsic  merit, 
but  because  the  plan  upon  which  they  are  arranged  is 
peculiar,  and  does  not  coincide  with  the  views  of  other 
School  Committees ;  and  also,  because  they  have  prob 
ably  not  been  pressed  upon  their  attention  so  assidu 
ously  as  some  others.  To  this  limited  circulation  of 
our  proteges,  we  enter  no  protest  or  complaint,  as  our 
firm  opinion  is,  that  the  advancement  of  the  scholar 
depends  far  more  upon  the  teacher  than  upon  the 


204  ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

book ;  and  as  we  will  cheerfully  yield  all  due  defer 
ence  to  the  views  of  others  upon  the  almost  endless 
variety  of  school-books,  we  doubt  not  that  we  shall  be 
pardoned  for  expressing  our  decided  attachment  and 
preference  for  those  which  have  so  long  been  part  and 
parcel  of  the  Boston  Primary  Schools. 

1844. 

The  Primary  Board  having  been  appointed,  January 
9,  held  their  annual  meeting  on  Tuesday  evening,  Feb 
ruary  6,  and  organized  themselves  for  the  current  year 
as  follows : 

Chairman  —  JOSIAH  F.  BUMSTEAD. 

Secretary  —  ALVAN  SIMONDS. 

Standing  Committee  —  John  Odin,  Jr.,  Chairman  ;  F.  A. 
Sumner,  Secretary  ;  Amos  A.  Phelps,  Asa  Swallow,  Eben 
Jones,  Frederic  0.  Prince,  J.  F.  Bumstead,  Alvan  Si- 
monds,  Andrew  Geyer,  John  C.  Park,  Lemuel  Capen, 
Daniel  T.  Coit,  W.  P.  Jarvis,  Joseph  Moriarty,  J.  W. 
Ingraham,  George  Bemis,  Ezra  Lincoln,  Jr. 

Committee  of  Conference.  —  It  was  "Voted,  That  here 
after  this  Committee  consist  of  the  Chairman  of  the 
Board,  and  the  Chairman  and  Secretary  of  the  Stand 
ing  Committee." 

It  was  then  "Voted  unanimously,  That  the  thanks 
of  the  Board  be  presented  to  RICHARD  W.  BAYLEY,  Esq., 
for  the  faithful  and  impartial  manner  in  which  he  had 
presided  over  the  deliberations  of  the  Board  for  the 
past  four  years ;  and  that  a  copy  of  this  vote  be  fur 
nished  to  our  late  Chairman,  who  declined  a  reelection." 

The  Committee  of  Conference  were  instructed  to  con- 


ANNALS   OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  205 

fer  with  the  Committee  of  Conference  of  the  Grammar 
Board,  on  the  subject  of  an  appropriation  for  lighting 
the  fires  and  cleaning  the  rooms  occupied  by  the  Pri 
mary  Schools,  and  endeavor,  either  through  the  assist 
ance  of  the  Grammar  School  Committee,  or  in  some 
other  way,  to  obtain  an  appropriation  from  the  City 
Council  for  that  purpose.  Rev.  John  Woart  and  Hon. 
John  C.  Park  were  added  to  the  Committee  to  aid  them 
in  obtaining  the  object. 

By  a  vote  of  the  Standing  Committee,  September  5, 
1843,  Messrs.  Ingraham  and  Simonds  were  appointed  a 
Committee  on  the  preparation  of  a  new  form  of  a 
record  book  for  the  teachers.  This  record  book  was 
prepared  with  great  care  and  labor  by  Mr.  Ingraham, 
and  was  adopted  by  the  Board,  March  5,  who  ordered 
it  to  be  introduced  at  once  into  all  the  Primary  Schools. 
A  vote  was  also  passed,  expressing  to  Mr.  Ingraham  the 
thanks  of  the  Board,  for  his  disinterested  labors  in  pre 
paring  so  complete  and  useful  a  work  for  the  purpose. 

On  the  report  of  the  Standing  Committee,  Messrs.  E. 
W.  BAYLEY,  JOHN  WOART,  FRANCIS  D.  STEDMAN,  and  WIL 
LIAM  T.  PARKER,  were  elected  to  fill  the  vacancies  occa 
sioned  by  the  resignations  of  Messrs.  Swallow,  Geyer, 
Lincoln  and  Capen. 

The  Standing  Committee,  in  their  Semi-Annual  Re 
port,  which  was  prepared  by  Dr.  R  A.  SUMNER,  proposed 
several  important  alterations  of  the  rules,  in  regard  to 
the  examinations  of  the  schools.  The  plan  which  they 
recommended  was  "to  dispense  with  one  examination 
of  the  Standing  Committee,  and  substitute  an  examina 
tion  by  the  District  Committee,  to  be  made  in  the  same 
form  and  manner  as  that  made  by  the  Standing  Com- 


206  ANNALS   OF   HIE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

mittce.  The  visits  to  the  schools  to  be  made  by  sub 
committees,  and  the  whole  state  and  condition  of  the 
schools  to  be  embraced  in  a  report,  drawn  up  by  some 
member  of  the  District  Committee,  and  forwarded  to 
the  Standing  Committee,  to  make  an  abstract  there 
from,  and  present  to  the  Board.  The  Spring  examina 
tions  to  be  made  by  the  Standing  Committee,  and  those 
in  the  Fall  by  the  Districts." 

These  recommendations  were  adopted  by  the  Board ; 
and  at  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  Standing  Commit 
tee,  the  proper  blanks  were  prepared  for  the  use  of 
District  Committees  in  their  examinations ;  and  it  was 
"  Voted,  That  the  Chairman  of  the  Standing  Committee 
should  prepare  the  abstract  of  the  Spring  examination, 
and  that  the  Secretary  should  prepare  the  abstract 
from  the  reports  of  the  District  Committees." 

The  Committee  on  School-houses  were  instructed  "  to 
consider  and  report  on  the  best  form  of  seats  in  the 
school-rooms;  that  measures  may  be  taken  to  secure 
uniformity  of  seats  in  the  rooms  hereafter  to  be  fitted 
up." 

A  communication  was  received  from  Districts  Nos.  2 
and  3,  stating  that  they  had  agreed  on  a  new  division 
of  their  districts,  by  which  some  of  the  schools  would 
be  changed,  and  asking  for  the  sanction  of  the  Board. 

This  arrangement  being  considered  judicious  and 
proper,  a  vote  was  passed,  authorizing  the  changes 
proposed. 

In  consequence  of  the  repairs  being  made  in  the 
Common  Council  room,  the  usual  quarterly  meeting 
of  the  Board,  in  September,  was  postponed  by  a  vote 
of  the  Standing  Committee  until  October  1,  when  their 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  207 

action  was  approved  by  the  Board,  and  the  following 
vote  passed  to  provide  against  future  contingencies : 

Voted,  That  the  Chairman  of  this  Board  and  the  Chairman 
of  the  Standing  Committee,  or  either  of  them,  in  the  absence 
of  the  other,  and  in  case  of  the  absence  of  both  of  them,  then 
a  majority  present  at  any  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee, 
shall  have  power  to  postpone  any  regular  meeting  of  this 
Board  to  some  other  evening  in  the  same  month,  when,  in 
their  opinion,  unforeseen  circumstances  may  render  it  neces 
sary  or  expedient  so  to  do. 

At  this  time  a  controversy  arose  between  Hon. 
Horace  Mann  and  the  masters  of  the  Boston  Gram 
mar  Schools,  in  consequence  of  some  statements  made 
upon  these  schools  in  Mr.  Mann's  "  Seventh  Annual 
Report  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  a  Review  of 
this  Report  by  the  Masters."  In  this  K  Review  "  some 
allusions  were  made  to  the  Primary  Schools,  which 
the  Standing  Committee  thought  proper  to  notice  in 
their  Serni- Annual  Report.  The  Board,  however,  not 
wishing  to  enter  into  a  controversy,  which  could  only 
result  in  acrimony  and  the  formation  of  a  party  feel 
ing,  without  either  benefit  to  the  cause  of  education, 
or  honor  to  the  parties  concerned,  refused  to  accept 
this  portion  of  the  report,  and  it  was  accordingly 
recommitted  to  the  Standing  Committee  for  revision ; 
and  the  supposed  allusions  to  the  Primary  School 
Committee  in  the  "  Review,"  were  referred  to  a  Special 
Committee,  to  consider  and  report  at  a  future  meeting. 

The  revised  report  of  the  Standing  Committee  was 
accepted  at  a  special  meeting,  November  8,  at  which 
Mr.  Bayley  presented  a  report  from  the  Special  Com- 


208  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

mittee  on  the  remarks  of  the  schoolmasters  in  their 
"  Review,"  which,  after  considerable  discussion,  and  the 
striking  out  of  certain  personal  matters,  was  recommit 
ted  to  the  same  Committee,  with  instructions  to  print 
a  suitable  number  of  copies  for  distribution. 

The  Committee  on  School-rooms  reported  in  favor 
of  small  arm-chairs  being  used  for  the  seats  in  the  Pri 
mary  Schools,  and  recommended  that  application  should 
be  made  to  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  of  the 
City  Council,  to  supply  this  kind  of  seat  in  the  future 
furnishing  of  the  schools. 

1845. 

The  usual  certificate  of  the  appointment  of  the  Pri 
mary  School  Committee  having  been  received,  the 
Board  met  for  organization,  February  5,  when  the  fol 
lowing  officers  and  Committees  were  chosen : 

Chairman  —  JOSIAII  F.  BUMSTEAD. 

Secretary  —  ALVAN  SIMON DS. 

Standing  Committee  —  Joseph  W.  Ingraham,  Chairman ; 
Alvan  Simonds,  Secretary  ;  Amos  A.  Phelps,  John  Woart, 
Charles  E.  Wiggin,  F.  A.  Sumner,  R  W.  Bayley,  Fred. 
0.  Prince,  John  Odin,  Jr.,  W.  P.  Jarvis,  Eben  Jones, 
Francis  D.  Stedman,  John  Spence,  Jr.,  John  C.  Park, 
Henry  I.  Bowditch,  AVm.  J.  Parker,  Josiah  F.  Bumstead. 

Dr.  HENRY  I.  BOWDITCH  presented  the  petition  of  sun 
dry  persons,  praying  for  the  abolishing  of  separate 
schools  for  colored  children,  and  that  they  be  admit 
ted  into  the  schools  with  other  pupils ;  and  moved  its 
reference  to  a  Special  Committee,  which  was  refused, 
and  the  whole  subject  laid  on  the  table.  This  petition 
was  taken  from  the  table,  March  4,  and  referred  to 
Messrs.  Bowditch,  Ingraham,  Bayley,  Blake  and  Tolman, 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  209 

to  consider  and  .report  upon  at  the  next  quarterly  meet 
ing.  There  not  being  time  to  act  upon  the  subject  at 
the  quarterly  meeting,  June  4,  an  adjourned  meeting 
was  held  June  18,  at  which  Mr.  Ingraham  submitted  a 
report,  signed  by  a  majority  of  the  Committee,  adverse 
to  the  petition;  and  Dr.  Bowditch  read  a  minority 
report,  and  resolutions  in  accordance  with  the  petition. 
A  long  discussion  ensued,  which  was  closed  by  the 
adoption  of  the  following  resolution,  by  a  vote  of  fifty- 
five  in  the  affirmative,  to  twelve  in  the  negative : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  inexpedient,  at  the  present  time,  for  this 
Board  to  act  upon  the  subject  of  abolishing  the  separate 
schools  for  colored  children. 

In  the  Standing  Committee,  February  25,  Dr.  F.  A. 
SUMNER  was  elected  Chairman,  but  declined,  and  Mr.  J. 
W.  INGRAHAM  was  chosen. 

Messrs.  Stedman,  Bumstead  and  Ingraham,  were 
appointed  a  Committee  to  prepare  a  memorial  to  the 
City  Government,  asking  for  an  appropriation  for  mak 
ing  the  fires,  cleaning  the  rooms,  and  removing  the 
snow  in  winter  from  the  Primary  Schools. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board,  September  2, 
the  subject  of  a  Superintendent  of  the  Primary  Schools 
was  again  brought  forward,  on  a  motion  by  Eev.  Chas. 
Brooks ;  and  "  Messrs.  Brooks,  Jones,  Dall,  Sumner  and 
Humphrey,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  into 
consideration  the  expediency  of  the.  appointment  of  a 
Superintendent  of  the  Primary  Schools,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be,  under  the  direction  of  this  Board,  to  devote 
his  whole  time  in  promoting  the  improvement  and 
extending  the  usefulness  of  the  Primary  Schools." 

27 


210  ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Messrs.  Brooks,  Park,  Cragin  and  Oliver,  were  ap 
pointed  a  Committee  to  report  upon  the  expediency  of 
increasing  the  salaries  of  the  teachers  to  $300  per 
annum ;  and  also,  whether  the  teachers  of  the  "  Schools 
for  Special  Instruction,"  ought  to  receive  a  larger  com 
pensation  than  the  others. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  Hon.  Thomas  A.  Davis  being 
in  declining  health,  resigned  the  office  of  Mayor;  the 
resignation,  however,  was  not  accepted  by  the  City 
Council.  As  Mr.  Davis  was  unable  to  perform  the 
duties  of  the  office  for  some  time  previous  to  his  death, 
which  occurred  November  22,  and  no  provisions  for 
such  a  contingency  having  been  made  in  the  City 
Charter,  the  regular  course  of  business  was  embar 
rassed,  and  the  settlement  of  accounts  against  the  city 
was  necessarily  deferred.  The  payment  of  the  teach 
ers'  salaries  was  thus  delayed ;  and  as  it  was  uncertain 
how  long  a  time  this  state  of  things  might  continue,  a 
special  meeting  of  the  Primary  Board  was  called  by 
the  Chairman  on  the  evening  of  November  21,  for  the 
purpose  of  adopting  some  measures  for  the  payment  of 
the  salaries  of  the  teachers  of  the  Primary  Schools,  who 
were  subjected  to  much  inconvenience  from  this  sin 
gular  state  of  affairs. 

At  this  meeting,  Messrs.  Ingraham,  D.  Kimball  and 
Bumstead,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  procure  the 
necessary  funds  for  the  immediate  payment  of  the  sal 
aries  of  the  teachers  due  on  the  1st  of  November. 

This  Committee  reported,  December  17,  by  stating 
that  the  salaries  of  one  hundred  and  eight  of  the  teach 
ers,  being  all  that  had  presented  their  bills,  had  been 
paid  from  the  funds  furnished  by  a  number  of  gentle- 


ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS.         211 

men ;  and  they  recommended  the  passage  of  the  fol 
lowing  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  the  cordial  thanks  of  this  Board  be  pre 
sented  to  James  Whiting,  George  R.  Sampson,  Charles  E. 
Wiggin,  Thomas  B.  Curtis,  J.  F.  Bumstead,  Peleg  W.  Chand 
ler,  Daniel  Denney,  Martin  Brimmer,  James  C.  Dunn,  Richard 
W.  Bayley,  and  Benjamin  Seaver,  Esquires,  for  their  kindness 
in  advancing  the  funds  necessary  to  liquidate  the  demands  of 
our  teachers  upon  the  City  Treasury. 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  resolve  was  passed 
by  the  Board. 

The  special  assignment  of  the  meeting  was  then 
taken  up,  which  was  the  consideration  of  the  report 
of  the  Committee  on  the  expediency  of  a  Superin 
tendent.  The  main  question  being  upon  the  adoption 
of  a  "  Resolve,  That  the  highest  good  of  the  Primary 
Schools  of  Boston  required  that  a  Superintendent  be 
appointed." 

The  discussion  continued  through  the  evening,  and. 
was   postponed   to   an   adjourned   meeting,   December 
24,  at  which,  after  a  further  discussion,  the  vote  was 
taken  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  resolve  rejected,  by 
forty-six  nays  to  eighteen  yeas. 

1846, 

FEBRUARY  6.     The  Board  was  organized  as  follows : 

Chairman  —  JOSIAH  F.  BUMSTEAD. 

Secretary  —  ALVAN  SIMONDS. 

Standing  Committee  —  J.  W.  Ingraham,  Chairman; 
Alvan  Simonds,  Secretary  ;  J.  F.  Bumstead,  R.  W.  Bay- 
ley,  W.  P.  Jarvis,  William  Ball,  John  Woart,  F.  0. 


212  ANNALS    OP    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Prince,  Eben  Jones,  John  Spence,  Jr.,  John  C.  Park, 
F.  D.  Stedman,  II.  I.  Bowel  itch,  Richard  Soule,  Jr.? 
William  Crowell,  J.  W.  Merrill,  Dorus  Clarke,  F.  A. 
Sumner. 

The  petition  of  sundry  citizens,  in  relation  to  special 
schools  for  colored  children,  was  taken  from  last  year's 
files,  and  referred  to  Messrs.  Crowell,  Kirnball,  Bow- 
ditch  and  Ingraham,  to  consider  and  report. 

At  a  meeting,  March  3,  the  Standing  Committee 
reported  that  they  had  selected  Mr.  WILLIAM  B.  BROOKS 
to  be  a  member  of  that  Committee,  in  place  of  William 
Dall,  resigned.  It  was  also  "  Voted,  That  the  Standing 
Committee  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in  their  body 
by  reporting  the  fact  to  the  Board." 

Mr.  D.  Kimball,  from  the  Committee  on  the  neglect 
of  members  to  examine  and  visit  their  schools,  made  a 
report,  recommending  that  Rule  6,  chapter  3,  be  altered 
by  inserting  the  following : 

Whenever  it  shall  appear  by  the  returns  of  the  teachers, 
or  from  any  other  source  satisfactory  to  the  Standing  Com 
mittee,  that  any  member  has  neglected  to  examine  the  school 
under  his  special  charge  for  three  consecutive  months,  his 
name  shall  be  stricken  from  the  list  of  members ;  and  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  notify  the  Chairman  or  Secre 
tary  of  the  district  of  such  vacancy.  Provided,  however, 
that  in  case  of  sickness  or  absence  from  the  city  of  any  mem 
ber,  the  charge  of  his  school  may  be  confided  to  another 
member  or  members;  notice  of  which  shall  be  given  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Board,  and  such  substitution  shall  continue 
for  a  period  not  exceeding  six  months. 

This  amendment  was  laid  upon  the  table,  and  the 
Secretary  directed  to  insert  it  in  the  notice  for  the 


ANNALS   OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  213 

next  meeting,  June  2,  when  it  was  unanimously 
adopted. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting,  June  2,  several  important 
votes  were  passed.  The  subject  of  Ventilation,  and 
the  necessity  of  some  action  in  regard  to  it,  was  in 
troduced  by  Dr.  H.  G.  Clark;  and  "Messrs.  Clark 
Brooks  and  Buck,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to 
devise  some  mode  of  ventilating  the  various  rooms 
used  for  Primary  Schools." 

Notwithstanding  the  large  number  of  schools  (one 
hundred  and  fifty)  at  this  time,  there  was  some  diffi 
culty  in  accommodating  all  the  children  in  some  sec 
tions  of  the  city ;  and  occasionally  a  member  of  the 
Committee  refused  to  admit  a  child  to  his  school,  on 
the  ground  of  its  being  already  crowded,  or  because 
he  did  not  consider  the  residence  of  the  child  included 
within  his  school  limits.  The  exercise  of  this  discre 
tion,  on  the  part  of  a  Local  Committee,  to  admit  or 
not,  was  liable  to  serious  objections,  inasmuch  as  the 
poor  and  uneducated  parents  could  not  understand 
how  to  proceed,  when  their  application  for  a  certifi 
cate  had  been  rejected  by  the  Committee,  to  whom 
they  had  been  sent ;  and  the  child  might  thus  be 
prevented  from  obtaining  an  education  to  which  all 
were  justly  entitled. 

With  these  views,  the  Standing  Committee  appended 
to  their  quarterly  report  a  series  of  alterations  to  the 
Kules,  by  which  all  children  were  entitled  to  enter 
the  school  nearest  their  residence  ;  and  it  was  made 
the  duty  of  every  member  to  admit  to  his  school  all 
applicants  of  suitable  age  and  qualifications;  and 
when  the  number  in  his  school  was  such  as  to  pre- 


214  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

vent  the  child's  admission,  the  teacher  or  Committee 
should  take  the  name  and  residence  of  the  child, 
specifying  the  cause  of  its  non-admission,  and  trans 
mit  the  same  to  the  Standing  Committee,  whose  duty 
it  was  made  to  provide  a  remedy.  These  amendments 
were  adopted  by  the  Board,  and  a  vote  was  passed, 
"  requiring  the  several  teachers  to  report  to  the  Secre 
tary  of  the  Board,  on  the  second  Monday  of  each 
month,  the  names  and  residences  of  all  children  be 
longing  to  their  schools,  who  may  be  incorrigibly 
stubborn,  or  habitual  truants;  and  as  far  as  they 
can  Jearn,  the  names  and  residences  of  the  parents 
of  any  children  who  may  be  growing  up  in  idleness 
and  neglect  of  all  school  privileges.  And  the  Secre 
tary  shall  transmit  the  same  to  His  Honor  the  Mayor, 
to  take  such  action  upon  the  several  cases  as  he  may 
deem  proper." 

On  the  15th  of  June,  Rev.  Mr.  CROWELL  presented 
his  report,  in  behalf  of  a  majority  of  the  Committee, 
on  the  petition  of  sundry  citizens,  for  the  abolishing 
of  separate  schools  for  colored  pupils ;  concluding  with 
a  resolve  adverse  to  the  prayer  of  the  petition.  Mr. 
EDMUND  JACKSON  submitted  a  minority  report,  and  a 
resolve  favorable  in  part  to  the  request  of  the  petition 
ers.  The  reports  were  received,  placed  on  file,  and 
the  Committee  discharged  from  further  consideration 
of  the  subject.  The  resolutions  were  then  taken  up, 
and  the  debate  continued  to  an  adjourned  meeting, 
June  22,  at  which  Mr.  Crowell  read  the  opinion  of 
JOHN  PICKERING,  Esq.,  the  City  Solicitor,  respecting  the 
legal  power  of  the  Primary  School  Committee  to  regu 
late  and  classify  the  children  in  their  schools.  The 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  215 

report  of  Mr.  Crowell  was  able  and  conclusive  in  its 
argument,  and  the  resolve  appended  to  it,  "That  in 
the  opinion  of  this  Board,  the  continuance  of  the 
separate  schools  for  colored  children  is  not  only  legal 
and  just,  but  is  best  adapted  to  promote  the  educa 
tion  of  that  part  of  our  population,"  was  passed  by 
a  vote  of  fifty-nine  yeas  to  sixteen  nays. 

Both  the  majority  and  minority  reports  *  were 
ordered  to  be  printed  and  distributed  to  the  members. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Standing  Committee,  Novem 
ber  24th,  the  Chairman  reported,  that  from  the  returns 
of  the  teachers  it  appeared  that  twenty-five  members 
of  the  Board  had  "neglected  to  examine  their  schools 
for  three  consecutive  months,"  and  that  these  mem 
bers  were  liable  to  be  stricken  from  the  list,  under 
the  rule  adopted  by  the  Board  in  June.  It  was,  how 
ever,  deemed  advisable  to  refer  this  whole  subject  to 
a  Committee  to  consider  and  report.  Accordingly, 
a  form  of  notice  to  delinquent  members  was  pre 
pared,  and  adopted  December  10 ;  but  the  City  Solici 
tor  being  consulted,  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  "  That  the 
Primary  Board  had  no  right,  at  present,  to  strike  off 
members  from  their  lists  until  the  time  had  expired 
for  which  they  were  appointed  by  the  Grammar 
School  Committee."  Application  was  subsequently 
made  to  the  Grammar  Board,  and  a  standing  author 
ity  given  to  the  Primary  Board  to  discharge  mem 
bers  who  may  neglect  to  perform  their  duties.  Of 
the  twenty-five  gentlemen  reported  as  delinquent, 
thirteen  were  excused  from  sickness,  absence  from 
the  city,  and  other  causes  deemed  sufficient  by  the 

*  City  Document,  No.  23,  1846. 


216  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

Committee;  three  were  found  to  be  errors  in  the 
teacher's  returns ;  three  had  previously  resigned,  but 
were  not  reported;  and  six  were  referred  to  the 
Standing  Committee  of  1847,  as  they  were  not  amen 
able  to  the  present  Committee,  under  the  ruling  of 
the  City  Solicitor. 

By  a  vote  of  the  Board,  December  7th,  the  rule 
in  regard  to  delinquent  members  was  so  far  amended 
as  to  give  discretionary  power  to  the  Standing  Com 
mittee  in  deciding  upon  striking  the  members  from 
the  list,  or  excusing  them,  as  circumstances  might 
render  it  expedient  or  proper. 


1847. 

FEBRUARY  2.  For  the  first  time,  since  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  Board,  a  majority  could  not  decide  upon 
a  Chairman.  Mr.  Bumstead  having  declined  a  reelec 
tion,  a  Committee  was  appointed  to  present  a  list  of 
names  of  suitable  persons  as  candidates  for  Chair 
man,  who  reported  the  names  of  GEORGE  S.  HILLARD, 
CHARLES  BROOKS,  and  EBEN  JONES.  After  two  ballot- 
ings,  in  which  Mr.  Hillard  had  within  two  of  the 
necessary  number,  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to 
Monday  evening,  February  8,  when  Mr.  Hillard  ob 
jected  to  being  considered  as  a  candidate.  A  Com 
mittee  then  proposed  the  names  of  Francis  Brown, 
Samuel  W.  Hall,  and  William  Crowell.  Mr.  Hall 
declined  being  a  candidate;  and  on  the  fifth  ballot 
Mr.  EBEN  JONES  was  elected  Chairman,  ALVAN  SIMONDS 
was  then  unanimously  reflected  Secretary. 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  217 

Standing  Committee  —  Joseph  W.  Ingraham,  Chair 
man  ;  Alvan  Simonds,  Secretary ;  J.  F.  Bumstead,  E. 
W.  Bayley,  John  Woart,  Eben  Jones,  H.  I.  Bowditch, 
R.  Soule,  Jr.,  W.  Crowell,  Amos  Smith,  Thomas  Wilder, 
W.  P.  Jarvis,  F.  0.  Prince,  J.  Spence,  Jr.,  J.  W.  Merrill, 
Dorus  Clark,  Wm.  B.  Brooks,  David  Kimball,  F.  A. 
Sumner. 

The  Committee  on  Ventilation  made  an  elaborate, 
practical  and  scientific  report  upon  this  subject,  and 
were  authorized  to  have  three  hundred  copies  printed 
for  the  use  of  the  teachers  and  Committee  of  the  Pri 
mary  Schools,  after  which,  "the  thanks  of  the  Board 
were  presented  to  Messrs.  Henry  G.  Clark,  Charles 
Brooks,  and  Ephraim  Buck,  Jr.,  for  their  time  and 
attention  bestowed  upon  the  subject  of  ventilation, 
and  for  their  able  and  interesting  report  upon  this 
subject,  in  connection  with  the  Primary  Schools." 

The  same  gentlemen  were  also  requested  to  continue 
to  act  as  a  Committee  on  Ventilation  for  the  ensuing 
year,  and  to  take  all  necessary  measures  to  obtain  the 
means  from  the  City  Government  to  effect  the  proper 
ventilation  of  the  Primary  School-rooms. 

It  is  gratifying  to  state  that  to  this  appeal  the  City 
Council  responded  by  a  liberal  appropriation,  which 
was  expended  under  the  general  supervision  of  this 
Committee,  and  that  of  the  City  Council  on  Public 
Buildings ;  but  to  Dr.  HENRY  G.  CLARK  we  are  princi 
pally  indebted,  for  the  effective  manner  in  which  this 
most  desirable  aid  to  the  health  and  comfort  of  our 
schools  was  accomplished. 

The  instruction  and  practice  of  plain  sewing,  as  an 
auxiliary  in  the  moral  training  of  the  girls  in  the 


218  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

Primary  Schools,  had  always  been  regarded  by  the 
Committee  as  highly  important,  and  its  necessity  had 
become  more  and  more  apparent,  as  the  schools  were 
increased,  and  were  filled  up  by  a  class  of  children  from 
the  lowest  ranks  of  society,  where  home  education  was 
unknown,  and  whose  moral  as  well  as  intellectual  facul 
ties  must  be  developed  by  our  teachers.  With  a  view 
to  increased  attention  to  this  subject,  the  Board  ap 
pointed  Messrs.  Charles  Brooks,  J.  "W.  Ingraham,  Joseph 
M.  Wightman,  J.  V.  C.  Smith,  and  Isaac  Adams,  a  Com 
mittee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  a  more  general 
introduction  of  plain  sewing  into  the  Primary  Schools; 
and  upon  their  report,  made  at  a  subsequent  meeting 
of  the  Board,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  plain  sewing  shall  be  introduced  into  any 
of  the  Primary  Schools,  whenever  the  Committee  of  such 
school  shall  deem  it  expedient. 

Ordered,  That  each  teacher  shall  specify  in  her  semi 
annual  report  the  number  of  pupils  who  practise  plain 
sewing  in  her  school. 

The  Standing  Committee  reported  that  they  had 
elected  Dr.  E.  D.  G.  PALMER  to  the  vacancy  occasioned 
by  the  resignation  of  Richard  W.  Bayley;  they  also 
reported  that  the  Grammar  School  Board  had  assented 
to  their  request,  to  change  the  age  from  seven  to  eight, 
for  the  transfer  of  children  from  the  Primary  to  the 
Grammar  Schools. 

Under  the  vote  of  the  City  Council,  passed  in  March, 
1838,  the  Primary  Board  established  several  schools  for 
the  education  of  children  over  eight  years  of  age. 
These  schools  had  proved  eminently  successful ;  and 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  219 

as  the  proportion  of  this  class  of  children  had  increased 
so  as  to  require  additional  accommodation,  the  Board 
petitioned  the  City  Council  for  a  modification  of  the 
original  order,  and  in  December,  1846,  the  Joint  Stand 
ing  Committee  on  Public  Instruction  reported  an  order 
by  which  the  Primary  School  Committee  "  were  author 
ized  to  admit  into  one  or  more  schools,  in  each  of  the 
districts,  any  children  over  seven  years  of  age,  not 
qualified  for  admission  into  the  Grammar  Schools." 
This  order  was  passed  by  both  branches  of  the  City 
Council,  and  officially  communicated  to  the  Board  at 
their  annual  meeting  in  January,  1847. 

Several  of  the  teachers  in  the  Grammar  Schools 
having  taken  the  responsibility  of  deciding  upon  the 
qualifications  of  pupils  from  the  Primary  Schools,  and 
rejecting  the  certificates  given  by  that  Committee,  the 
Standing  Committee  requested  the  Grammar  Board 
to  take  some  action  in  reference  to  the  matter,  upon 
which  the  following  resolution  was  passed  by  that 
Board,  February  3,  1847: 

Resolved,  That  the  children  coming  from  the  Primary  to 
the  Grammar  Schools^  and  bringing  a  certificate  of  the  requi 
site  qualifications  from  a  member  of  the  Primary  School 
Committee,  shall  not  be  rejected  on  account  of  want  of 
qualifications,  unless  the  rejection  shall  be  sanctioned  by  the 
Sub-Committee  of  the  Grammar  School,  to  which  application 
for  admission  shall  be  made. 

The  vacations  in  the  Grammar  Schools  had  been 
gradually  increased  by  the  action  of  the  Committee, 
until,  including  Wednesday  and  Saturday  afternoons, 
the  aggregate  amounted  to  nearly  one-third  of  the 


220  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

year.  The  Primary  Board  had  usually  allowed  the 
same  vacations  in  the  schools  under  their  care,  although 
they  had  long  felt  that  so  much  vacation  was  a  great 
disadvantage  to  the  children,  and  very  troublesome  to 
the  parents.  Under  these  circumstances,  when  the 
Grammar  Board  voted  to  add  two  more  weeks  to  the 
vacation,  the  Standing  Committee  felt  it  their  duty 
to  notice  the  evil  effect  of  this  proceeding  in  their 
Semi- Annual  Report  to  the  Board,  March  2,  1847, 
and  recommended  the  following  to  their  consideration : 

"Whereas,  the  Committee  have  understood  that  the  Gram 
mar  Board  have  by  a  late  order  voted  to  add  two  weeks  to 
the  summer  vacation  of  their  schools ;  and 

"Whereas,  it  is  desirable  that  the  vacations  in  the  Primary 
Schools  should  continue  to  occur  at  the  same  time,  and  be  of 
the  same  length,  as  those  in  the  Grammar  Schools ;  and  this 
Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  extension  of  our  vacations 
will  be  injurious  to  our  schools,  and  a  source  of  complaint 
from  the  parents  of  the  scholars ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  a  respectful  request  be  presented  to  the 
Grammar  School  Committee,  that  they  will  reconsider  their 
late  order  extending  their  summer  vacation  to  five  and  a-half 
weeks. 

This  was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Board,  and 
the  Standing  Committee  instructed  to  confer  with  the 
Grammar  Board  on  the  subject. 

Mr.  Ingraham  announced  the  death  of  Dr.  EPIIRAIM 
BUCK,  Jr.,  and  paid  an  appropriate  tribute  to  his  worth, 
and  valuable  services  as  a  member  of  the  Board,  and 
of  the  Committee  on  Ventilation,  which  was  responded 
to  by  the  Chairman ;  and  Dr.  WILLIAM  K  COALE  was 
appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  Committee  on 
Ventilation. 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  221 

The  order  introduced  February  "8,  by  Mr.  Ingraham, 
for  the  reduction  of  the  members  of  the  Board,  was 
considered  at  the  quarterly  meeting,  March  10th,  and 
after  several  amendments  it  was  decided  to  make  the 
experiment  under  an  order  in  the  following  form  : 

Ordered,  That  whenever  the  seat  of  any  member  of  this 
Board  shall  be  vacated,  the  District  Committee,  of  which  he 
was  a  member,  be  empowered  to  assign  the  care  of  his  school 
to  some  other  member  of  their  Committee,  who  is  willing  to 
assume  it,  instead  of  nominating  a  new  member  to  fill  the 
vacancy ;  no  member  being  allowed  to  have  the  care  of  more 
than  two  schools. 

SEPTEMBER  7.  Messrs.  Ingraham,  Wilder,  Simonds, 
Jones,  Bowditch,  and  Soule,  were  appointed  "a  Com 
mittee  to  confer  with  the  city  authorities  in  relation 
to  the  evils  of  truancy  and  vagrancy  among  the  young 
of  our  city,  and  adopt  such  measures  in  concurrence 
with  said  authorities  as  may  be  deemed  expedient 
to  remedy  these  evils." 

In  the  report  of  the  Standing  Committee,  much 
gratification  was  expressed  at  the  efforts  which  were 
being  made  to  establish  a  Public  Library;  and  the 
Board  passed  the  following  resolution  at  their  meet 
ing,  December  7 : 

Resolved^  That  the  Primary  School  Committee  view  with 
feelings  of  pleasure  the  efforts  of  the  City  Government,  aided 
by  liberal-minded  men,  towards  the  establishment  of  a  Public 
Library,  designed  for  the  benefit  of  the  citizens  generally,  and 
that  an  object  so  desirable  in  itself  is  worthy  of  their  highest 
countenance  and  support;  and  that  they  look  forward  to  the 
time  when  the  hopes  of  its  friends  will  be  fully  realized. 


ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 


1848. 

On  the  12th  of  January,  the  Primary  School  Com 
mittee  received  their  usual  appointment  from  the 
Grammar  Board,  and  their  first  meeting  for  organiza 
tion  was  held  February  1,  when  the  following  officers 
and  Committees  were  chosen : 

President  * —  EBEN  JONES. 

Secretary  —  ALVAN  SLMONDS. 

Executive*  Committee  —  J.  "W.  Ingraham,  Chairman; 
Alvan  Simonds,  Secretary  ;  F.  A.  Sumner,  Wm.  Crowell, 
Joseph  M.  Wightman,  Oliver  Carter,  Richard  Soule,  Jr., 
William  Butters,  John  Spence,  Jr.,  W.  P.  Jarvis,  E.  D. 
G.  Palmer,  Samuel  B.  Cruft,  Samuel  F  McCleary,  Jr., 
Albert  Bowker,  David  Kimball,  John  Woart,  S.  L. 
Abbott,  Eben  Jones,  Thomas  Wilder. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  William  D.  Ticknor,  it  was 

Voted,  That  in  view  of  the  increase  of  schools,  and  the 
additional  duties  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Board,  he  be  author 
ized  hereafter  to  present  to  the  city  a  semi-annual  bill  for  $50, 
instead  of  $30,  as  heretofore,  and  that  the  president  be  re 
quested  to  approve  the  same,  and  present  it  with  this  vote  to 
the  Committee  on  Accounts  of  the  City  Council. 

MARCH  7.  A  Committee  having  been  appointed  for 
the  purpose,  the  schools  at  East  Boston  were  divided 
into  three  districts,  which  were  designated  as  Districts 

*  In  the  Rules  of  the  Board,  which  were  carefully  revised  by  a  Committee 
and  adopted  by  the  Board,  November  16,  1847,  the  title  of  "Chairman" 
of  the  Board  was  changed  to  that  of  "  President,"  and  the  "  Standing  ** 
Committee  changed  to  the  "  Executive "  Committee, 


ANNALS    OF    THE     PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  223 

1,  2  and  3,  East  Boston ;  the  districts  in  the  other  parts 
of  the  city  remaining  as  at  present  numbered. 

The  following  statistics  of  the  Primary  Schools  for 
one  year  will  show  the  labor  and  duties  of  the  Com 
mittee  at  this  time : 

No.  schools.         Boys.  Girls.  Total.     Av.  attend.   No.  exam's.   No.  visits. 

Jan.  31,  1847,  138  4517  4069  8586  6579  759  2004 
July  31,  1847,  146  4831  4589  9420  7220  853  2460 
Jan.  31,  1848,  159  5101  4747  9838  7548  841  2311 

The  Executive  Committee  made  a  report  on  the 
order  referred  to  them,  at  the  last  meeting  of  the 
Board,  in  relation  to  placing  the  $25  allowed  to  the 
teachers  for  making  fires,  care  of  rooms,  &c.,  at  the 
disposal  of  the  District  Committees.  The  Committee 
deemed  it  inexpedient  to  make  any  change,  but  recom 
mended  that  the  attention  of  the  teachers  be  particu 
larly  called  to  the  provisions  in  the  Rules,  in  relation 
to  the  opening  and  warming  of  the  school-rooms  at 
seasonable  hours,  and  that  their  particular  attention 
be  called  to  these  provisions.  The  report  and  recom 
mendations  were  adopted. 

The  Executive  Committee  were  requested  to  con 
sider  the  expediency  of  asking  an  appropriation  from 
the  City  Government  to  furnish  each  of  the  Primary 
Schools  with  a  dictionary. 

The  subject  of  employing  one  or  more  teachers 
of  music  for  the  teachers  and  pupils  of  the  Primary 
Schools,  was  referred  to  a  Committee  composed  of 
Messrs.  Brooks,  Ticknor,  Cragin,  Humphrey  and  Coit. 

A  Committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  report  upon 
the  best  method  of  securing  to  all  the  pupils  in  our 
Primary  Schools,  that  religious  and  moral  instruction 


224  ANNALS    OF  THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

which  is  required  by  the  constitution  and  laws  of  the 
Commonwealth. 

Frequent  allusions  have  already  been  made  to  the 
efforts  of  the  Primary  School  Board,  in  relation  to 
some  improvement  in  the  rooms  which  were  provided 
for  this  class  of  our  Public  Schools.  They  had,  after 
years  of  effort,  succeeded  in  inducing  the  city  to  erect 
a  few  buildings  for  this  purpose ;  but  the  contrast 
between  the  accommodations  for  the  Grammar  and 
Primary  Schools  was  very  marked.  The  former  were 
exhibited  with  pride,  and  justly  regarded  as  monuments 
of  the  prosperity  and  intelligence  of  our  citizens, 
while  the  latter,  often  crowded  into  obscure  hired 
rooms,  with  but  few  comforts  or  conveniences  for  a 
school,  were  a  constant  subject  of  mortification,  when 
ever  the  Committee  were  called  upon  to  show  this 
class  of  our  schools  to  strangers. 

The  buildings  which  were  erected  by  the  city  for 
the  Primary  Schools,  were  built  of  wood,  and  contained 
but  a  single  room,  after  the  model  of  the  common  vil 
lage  school-houses.  It  had  not  been,  nor  was  it  then, 
the  practice  of  the  City  Council  to  confer  with  either 
of  the  School  Committees  in  relation  to  the  location, 
size  or  construction  of  a  school-house  ;  and  when,  occa 
sionally,  a  suggestion  was  made  by  the  Grammar  School 
Committee,  it  was  regarded  rather  as  an  interference 
with  the  prerogatives  of  the  City  Council,  the  members 
of  which,  sometimes,  carried  the  idea  of  the  peculiar 
fitness  of  their  own  members  to  provide  the  school- 
houses,  to  an  extreme  not  warranted  or  sustained  by 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  225 

the   manner    in   which,   some    of   the   buildings    were 
constructed.* 

Because  a  large  majority  of  the  members  of  the 
School  Committee  were  professional  men,  it  was  no 
reason  why  their  judgment  should  be  entirely  ignored 
in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  arrangement  of  the 
school-houses.  The  importance  of  judicious  warming 
and  ventilation,  —  the  arrangement  of  the  windows  and 
the  seats,  so  that  the  room  might  be  properly  lighted 
without  injuring  the  eyes  of  the  pupils,  and  the  manner 
in  which  many  things  could  be  advantageously  intro 
duced  to  increase  the  comfort,  convenience  and  health 
of  the  children  and  teachers,  can  only  be  thoroughly 
understood  and  appreciated  by  those  of  our  citizens, 
who,  as  members  of  the  School  Committee,  have  ex 
perienced  the  evils  attendant  upon  a  neglect  of  these 
matters.  And  it  is  but  justice  to  assert,  that,  to  the 
perseverance  and  scientific  investigations  of  these  pro- 

*In  1846,  an  order  was  introduced  in  the  Common  Council  by  a  member, 
instructing  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  to  consult  with  the  Committee 
on  School-houses  of  the  School  Committee,  before  purchasing  a  site,  or 
deciding  upon  a  plan  for  a  school-house,  which  was  voted  down  by  almost 
a  unanimous  vote.  The  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Build 
ings  asked  with  an  air  of  triumph,  "  What  do  the  School  Committee  know 
about  buildings  ?  They  may  know  how  to  take  care  of  tho  schools  and 
children,  but  they  are  not  architects,  or  masons,  or  carpenters,  and  know 
nothing  of  the  'erection  of  buildings,  while  the  Committee  on  Public  Build 
ings  is  composed  of  practical  men,  who  know  all  about  the  matter."  To 
show  the  value  of  the  practical  knowledge  of  this  Committee,  we  would 
state  that  in  the  erection  of  the  Lyman  School-house,  at  East  Boston,  under 
their  direction,  the  ventilating  flues  were  carried  up  within  the  walls  to  the 
top,  and  then  covered  over  tight  with  the  stone  coping  !  and  in  other  school- 
houses,  erected  under  the  direction  of  this  same  practical  Committee,  the 
flues  were  made  to  terminate  in  the  attic,  from  which  no  outlet  was  provided; 
and  thus,  so  far  as  ventilation  was  concerned^  the  flues  might  just  as  well 
have  been  closed  by  the  coping. 


226  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

fcsslonal  members  of  the  School  Committee  we  are 
principally  indebted,  for  the  cheerful,  healthy,  and 
attractive  schools  now  enjoyed  by  our  children. 

The  continued  efforts  of  the  Primary  Board,  and  the 
indefatigable  perseverance  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Ingraham, 
seem  finally  to  have  made  some  impression  on  the 
Government ;  and  during  the  years  1847  and  1848, 
three  Primary  School-houses  were  built  in  different  parts 
of  the  city,  —  the  plans  and  arrangements  of  which 
were,  generally,  in  conformity  with  the  views  and 
desires  of  the  Primary  Board.  And  there  is  reason 
to  believe,  that  when  the  buildings  were  completed,  the 
Committee  of  the  City  Council  were  satisfied  that  the 
views  of  the  Executive  Committee  were  judicious,  and 
justified  the  adoption  of  the  plans  they  had  submitted. 

The  third,  and  probably  the  best  arranged  of  these 
buildings,  was  that  erected  on  Sheafe  street,  for  three 
schools  in  District  No.  1.  This  was  also  the  first  school- 
house  erected  for  Primary  School  instruction  in  this 
city,  which  was  set  apart  for  its  appropriate  uses  by  a 
formal  dedicatory  service.  At  the  request  of  the  Ex 
ecutive  Committee,  Mr.  Ingraham  delivered  an  interest 
ing  address  upon  the  progress  of  the  Primary  School 
system,  and  on  the  duties  of  teachers  and  others  con 
nected  with  the  schools.  Other  addresses  were  made 
by  Hon.  Horace  Mann,  Secretary  of  the  Massachusetts 
Board  of  Education,  and  gentlemen  connected  with  the 
City  Council,  and  School  Committee,  which,  with  the 
singing  of  several  hymns  and  songs  by  the  school  chil 
dren,  rendered  the  occasion  exceedingly  agreeable  and 


encouraging. 


On  the  13th  of  June,  the  Semi- Annual  Report  of  the 


ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  227 

Executive  Committee  was  read  to  the  Board  by  Mr. 
INGRAIIAM,  which  was  the  last  report  made  by  him,  as 
his  useful  life  was  brought  to  a  close  on  Monday  even 
ing,  August  28th,,  preceded  by  an  illness  of  less  than  a 
week.  His  long  connection  with  the  Primary  Schools, 
and  his  sudden  and  unexpected  decease,  produced  a 
profound  impression  upon  the  Committee  and  teachers 
w^ith  whom,  for  many  years,  he  had  been  associated. 

In  the  year  1821,  Mr.  Ingraham  was  elected  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Primary  School  Committee,  and  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  was  a  most  zealous  and 
efficient  member. 

The  wide  field  of  usefulness  thus  opened,  was  con 
genial  to  his  active  mind,  and  he  entered  upon  it  with 
the  most  lively  interest.  He  was  always  regular  and 
punctual  at  the  meetings  of  the  Board  and  Committees, 
and  his  labors  were  of  a  character  and  amount  scarcely 
to  be  credited  by  those  who  were  not  familiar  with 
them.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Executive  Commit 
tee,  held  August  29th,  the  following  resolutions  were 
unanimously  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  the  Executive  Committee  have  learned,  with 
heartfelt  sorrow,  the  sudden  decease  of  their  esteemed  Chair 
man,  JOSEPH  "W.  INGRAHAM,  in  which  event  they  have  to  de 
plore  the  loss  of  a  valuable  and  indefatigable  member  of  their 
Committee,  and  the  senior  member  of  the  Primary  School 
Board. 

Resolved,  That  his  ardent  devotion  to  the  cause  of  popular 
education,  his  faithful  discharge  of  the  laborious  duties  of 
Chairman  of  this  Committee  for  many  years,  his  unwearied 
and  gratuitous  exertions  for  the  best  interests  of  the  Primary 
Schools  of  this  city,  entitle  him  to  the  grateful  remembrance 
of  this  community,  and  of  the  friends  of  education  generally. 


228  ANNALS   OF  THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Resolved,  That  the  Executive  Committee  will  attend  the 
funeral  of  the  deceased  at  Christ  Church,  on  Thursday  next, 
at  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and  they  do  hereby  invite  the  members 
of  the  Primary  and  Grammar  School  Committees  to  unite 
v/ith  them  in  this  expression  of  their  respect  for  the  memory 
of  their  late  friend  and  Chairman. 

Resolved,  As  a  testimony  of  respect  for  the  many  virtues  of 
the  deceased,  the  Committee  recommend  that  the  several  Pri 
mary  Schools  throughout  the  city  be  suspended  on  Thursday 
afternoon  next,  that  both  teachers  and  children  may  pay  the 
last  sad  tribute  to  departed  worth. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  above  resolutions  be  transmit 
ted  by  the  Secretary  to  the  relatives  of  the  deceased,  with 
whom  this  Committee  deeply  sympathize  in  their  sudden 
bereavement. 

The  funeral  of  Mr.  Ingraham  took  place  at  Christ 
Church,  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  August  31st.  Every 
part  of  the  house  was  crowded  with  the  friends  of  the 
deceased,  among  whom  were  the  members  of  the 
School  Committee,  the  Primary  School  teachers,  mem 
bers  of  the  City  Government,  distinguished  friends  of 
education,  and  many  of  the  children  of  the  schools  in 
the  vicinity.  The  body  was  met  at  the  church  door, 
and  conducted  up  the  aisle  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  CROSWELL 
and  EATON,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  WOART.  Appropriate 
music  was  performed  by  the  choir,  and  a  beautiful  and 
touching  eulogy  upon  the  character  and  life  of  Mr 
Ingraham,  as  a  citizen,  as  a  man,  and  as  a  Christian, 
was  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  \Voart,  who  was  his 
pastor,  and  for  many  years  his  associate  in  the  Board. 
Almost  the  entire  congregation  followed  in  procession 
to  the  burial  ground,  on  Copp's  Hill,  where  the  exer- 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  229 

cises  were    concluded   by   the   Rev.   Drs.   EATON    and 
CROSWELL. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting .  of  the  Board,  September 
5,  the  death  of  Mr.  Ingraham  was  announced  by  Mr. 
Woart,  and  a  series  of  resolutions  were  adopted,  ex 
pressing  their  sense  of  the  loss  the  schools  had  sus 
tained  ;  and  the  following  votes  were  passed,  after 
which  the  Board  adjourned,  as  a  testimonial  of  their 
respect : 

Voted,  That  Messrs.  J.  V".  C.  Smith,  T.  R.  Marvin,  and  W. 
D.  Ticknor,  be  a  Committee  to  wait  upon  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woart, 
and  solicit  for  publication  a  copy  of  his  just  and  appropriate 
observations  on  the  character  of  the  late  Joseph  Wentworth 
Ingraham,  as  delivered  at  his  funeral. 

Voted,  That  the  doings  of  this  Board,  and  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  in  relation  to  Mr.  Ingraham's  decease,  be  printed 
for  the  use  of  the  Board,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Woart's 
address,  under  the  direction  of  the  same  Committee. 

The  Executive  Committee  held  a  meeting  on  the 
afternoon  of  September  5th.  at  which  Mr.  JOSEPH 
M.  WIGHTMAN  was  chosen  Chairman,  in  place  of  Mr. 
Ingraham.  The  Secretary  read  the  semi-annual  report, 
to  which  a  vote  was  appended,  "  That  the  subject  of 
the  bad  binding  of  school  books,  as  referred  to  by  sev 
eral  teachers,  be  specially  brought  to  the  notice  of  the 
Board  in  the  report."  Mr.  Wilder  having  resigned  the 
special  charge  of  the  school  on  the  Mill  Dam,  it  was 
voted  to  revive  the  old  practice  of  examination  by  the 
members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  in  rotation,  two 
members  in  each  month. 

SEPTEMBER  12.  An  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Board 
was  held,  at  which  the  quarterly  report  of  the  Execu- 


230  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

tive  Committee  was  read  by  the  Secretary ;  and  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Wales,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  Primary  School-house,  lately  erected  in 
Shcafe  street,  upon  a  plan  furnished  by  our  late  associate, 
Joseph  W.  Ingrahara,  be  hereafter  known  by  the  name  of  the 
"  INGRAHAM  PRIMARY  SCHOOL." 

Voted,  That  Messrs.  Wales,  Bumstead,  Ober,  Dall  and  Met- 
calf,  be  a  Committee  to  communicate  the  foregoing  vote  to 
the  City  Council,  and  request  their  concurrence ;  and  that 
they  cause  the  name  aforesaid  to  be  affixed  to  said  house  in 
the  usual  manner. 

DECEMBER  5.  This  being  the  regular  quarterly  meet 
ing,  the  Semi-Annual  report  of  the  Executive  Commit 
tee  for  the  preceding  six  months  wras  presented  and 
read  by  the  Secretary.  From  this  report  it  appears 
that  on  the  1st  of  November  the  statistics  of  the 
schools  were  as  follows,  viz. : 
Whole  number  of  schools,  ....  166 

Whole  number  of  pupils, 10,273 

Pupils  admitted  during  the  last  six  months,       .      4,791 
Pupils  sent  to  Grammar  School  during  the  last 

six  months,        ......         962 

Pupils  now  prepared  for  admission  to   Gram 
mar  School,        .         .         .         .         .         .         631 

Average  attendance, 7,973 

Average  absence, 2,178 

Per  cent,  of  attendance, 78 

Number  that  attend  to  sewing, ....  879 
Number  of  pupils  of  foreign  parentage,  .  .  4,977 
Number  of  examinations,  ....  877 
Number  of  visits  to  the  schools,  .  .  .  2,577 
Number  of  pupils  over  seven  years  of  age,  .  3,969 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  231 

The  Executive  Committee  also  recommended  an 
alteration  of  the  time  of  their  examination,  to  the  first 
two  weeks  in  February ;  and  that  by  the  District  Com 
mittees  to  the  first  two  weeks  in  August;  and  the 
same  was  adopted  at  the  succeeding  meeting. 


1849. 

The  Primary  School  Committee  having  been  ap 
pointed  by  the  Grammar  Board,  on  the  17th  of  Jan 
uary,  the  first  meeting  for  organization  was  held 
February  2d,  and  the  following  officers  were  chosen  : 

President  —  EBEN  JONES. 

Secretary  —  ALVAN  SIMONDS. 

Executive  Committee  —  Joseph  M.  Wightman,  Chairman  ; 
Alvan  Simonds,  Secretary;  William  P.  Jarvis,  Eben 
Jones,  John  Woart,  John  Spence,  Jr.,  E.  D.  G.  Palmer, 
Albert  Bowker,  Samuel  F.  McCleary,  Jr.,  Charles 
Brooks,  Thomas  Kestieaux,  William  H.  Calrow,  David 
Kimball,  Thomas  Wilder,  Alvah  Hobbs,  Moses  J  Gove, 
William  E.  Lawrence,  Oliver  Carter,  William  A.  But 
ters,  Samuel  A.  Abbott. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  John  Odin,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  the  Committee  of  Conference  be  requested 
to  ascertain  and  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  this  Board, 
what  directions  are  given  to  the  masters  of  the  Grammar 
Schools  in  relation  to  the  keeping  of  long  sessions  on  stormy 
days,  and  suggest  such  action  as  may  create  uniformity  in  this 
matter  in  the  Public  Schools. 

A  communication  was  received  from  the  City  Audi 
tor,  requesting  an  estimate  of  the  appropriation  re- 


232  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

quired  for  the  Primary  School  department  for  the 
next  financial  year,  upon  which  it  was  "Voted,  That 
so  much  as  refers  to  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the 
schools  be  referred  to  the  Executive  Committee  ;  and 
so  much  as  relates  to  school-houses,  be  referred  to 
the  Committee  on  School-houses." 

MARCH  G.  Quarterly  Meeting. — New  schools  were  au 
thorized  to  be  established  in  Districts  Nos.  5, 16  and  19. 

Rev.  C.  Brooks  stated  that  the  Grammar  School 
Board  had  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  a  new  organization  of  all  the  Public 
Schools,  and  moved  that  a  Committee  from  the  Primary 
Board  should  be  appointed  to  confer  with  them ;  where 
upon,  Messrs.  T.  R  Marvin,  Francis  Brown,  and  Benja 
min  P.  Richardson,  were  appointed  a  Committee  for 
this  purpose. 

The  Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  Executive  Commit 
tee  was  then  read  by  the  Chairman,  (Mr.  Wightman,) 
from  which  it  apoeared  that  on  the  31st  of  January, 
1849, 

The  number  of  schools  was       .         .         .         .  168 

The  number  of  pupils — girls,  4,984  ;  boys,  5.455,  10,439 
The  number  of  pupils  sent  to  the  Grammar 

Schools, 769 

The  number  of  pupils  now  prepared  for  Gram 
mar  Schools, 1,029 

The  number  of  pupils  attending  to  sewing,       .  1,089 

The  number  of  pupils  of  foreign  parentage,      .  4,996 

Per  centage  of  attendance  last  six  months,        .  .76 

Number  of  examinations  by  the  Committee,     .  874 

Number  of  visits  to  the  schools,        .        .        .  2,449 


ANNALS    OP   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  233 

The  Chairman  also  reported  that  Messrs.  Charles 
Brooks  and  Thomas  Restieaux  having  declined  the 
office  of  members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  they 
had  filled  the  vacancies  by  the  choice  of  James  B.  Dow 
and  Israel  P.  Procter,  which  action  was  confirmed  by 
the  Board. 

Mr.  Wightman,  for  the  Committee  of  Conference, 
made  a  report  upon  the  order  passed  at  the  last  meet 
ing,  in  relation  to  "  long  sessions  on  stormy  days,"  stat 
ing  that  the  Grammar  School  Committee  had  voted 
that  such  sessions  were  "  unauthorized  and  inexpedi 
ent,"  and  that  probably  no  farther  action  was  necessary. 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  it  was  voted  that  the 
Local  Committees  should  not  permit  long  sessions  to  be 
held  in  the  schools  under  their  charge. 

The  Committee  of  Conference  with  the  Grammar 
Board,  were  directed  to  request  the  restoration  of  the 
rule  in  relation  to  Intermediate  Schools,  and  the  repeal 
of  such  provisions  as  conflict  with  reciprocal  action  of 
the  two  Boards  in  the  transfer  of  pupils. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  May  25th, 
"  to  consider  the  expediency  of  granting  a  vacation  of 
two  weeks,  instead  of  one  week,  in  conformity  with  the 
action  of  the  Grammar  Board  towards  the  schools 
under  their  charge." 

After  considerable  discussion,  during  which  it  was 
demonstrated  that  it  was  not  for  the  interest  of  the 
parents,  the  children  or  the  schools,  to  increase  the 
vacations ;  and  that  the  frequent  demand  for  vacations, 
by  the  teachers,  ought  not  to  be  encouraged,  it  was 
voted  unanimously  that  the  subject  be  indefinitely 
postponed. 

30 


234  ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

The  Committee  on  School  Books  made  a  report, 
recommending  that  the  words  in  the  spelling  books 
be  visibly  divided  into  syllables,  and  that  the  author 
of  the  book  styled  "  Spelling  and  Thinking  Combined," 
be  requested  to  publish  an  edition  of  said  work,  in 
which  the  words  of  more  than  one  syllable  should  be 
divided  according  to  the  best  standard  dictionary. 
Also  recommending  that  the  following  charts  be  intro 
duced  into  all  the  Primary  Schools,  viz. :  "  Table  for 
Training  the  Organs  of  Speech  in  Articulation,"  "Nu 
merical  Table,"  and  the  "Punctuation  Table,"  which 
had  been  partially  introduced,  with  satisfactory  evi 
dence  of  their  utility. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  inexpedient  for  the  teachers  of  our 
Primary  Schools  to  act  as  agents,  or  use  their  influence  as 
teachers,  in  the  distribution  among  their  pupils  of  periodicals 
or  any  other  publications,  not  specially  recommended  by  the 
Primary  School  Board. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Board  was  called,  July  2, 
the  object  of  which  was  "  to  see  if  the  Committee  will 
take  any  measures  for  altering  the  time  of  commencing 
the  schools  in  the  afternoon,  from  two  to  three  o'clock, 
so  as  to  conform  with  the  action  of  the  Grammar 
Board." 

The  subject  elicited  considerable  discussion,  in  which 
the  frequent  changes  in  the  legislation  of  the  Grammar 
Board,  in  regard  to  vacations  and  school  hours,  were 
objected  to,  as  being  detrimental  to  the  general  welfare 
of  the  schools ;  and  under  the  circumstances,  it  was 


ANNALS*  OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  235 

considered  advisable  for  the  Primary  Board  to  defer 
making  any  important  alterations  in  the  schools  under 
their  care,  until  some  settled  plan  should  be  adopted  by 
the  Grammar  Board,  after  a  trial  in  the  schools  under 
their  own  charge. 

The  inconvenience  of  having  the  Public  Schools 
assemble  at  different  hours,  was  urged  as  a  reason 
for  the  change ;  but  the  Board  voted  to  indefinitely 
postpone  the  further  consideration  of  the  subject. 

The  quarterly  meeting  was  held  September  4th,  at 
which  the  Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  Executive  Com 
mittee  was  presented  by  the  Secretary  and  accepted.  f 

Mr.  Wightman  presented  a  petition  of  Sidney  Fisher, 
and  other  residents  in  Wards  10  and  11,  requesting  a 
special  investigation  into  the  causes  of  the  removal  of 
certain  teachers  of  the  Primary  Schools  in  District  No. 
18,  by  the  Local  Committee.  While  the  appointment 
of  a  Committee  was  pending,  a  motion  was  made  and 
carried  that  the  whole  matter  be  postponed. 

Much  interest,  however,  being  felt  in  the  course  of 
the  Committee,  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  was 
called  on  the  evening  of  October  9,  upon  the  written 
request  of  Rev.  Otis  A.  Skinner  and  eleven  others, 
members  of  the  Committee,  "to  take  into  considera 
tion  the  proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  schools  in 
District  No.  18."  After  the  request  for  the  meeting 
had  been  read,  Mr.  Wightman  presented  the  following 
preamble  and  resolves : 

Whereas,  the  62d  section  of  the  Rules  of  this  Board 
declares  that  no  District  Committee  shall  consist  of  less  than 


236  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

half  as  many  members  as  there  are  schools  in  the  district; 
and 

Whereas,  the  Committee  of  District  No.  18  have  neglected 
to  conform  to  the  above-mentioned  rule,  having  had  for  a 
long  time  past  but  four  members  for  the  nine  schools  in  their 
district;  and 

Whereas,  at  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Executive  Commit 
tee,  held  in  June  last,  the  Committee  of  District  No.  18  were 
duly  notified  of  their  violation  of  the  rules,  and  the  necessity 
of  complying  with  them,  which  notification  has  been  neglected 
to  the  present  time ;  and  the  Committee  have  continued  to 
exercise  the  rights  and  prerogatives  of  a  District  Committee, 
without  being  legally  constituted  so  to  act;  and 

Whereas,  they  have  assumed  powers  not  delegated  nor 
sanctioned  by  the  letter  or  spirit  of  our  rules,  inasmuch  as 
they  have  discharged  faithful  and  competent  teachers  from  a 
number  of  schools  in  their  district,  without  reasonable  cause, 
and  have  elected  other  teachers  in  their  places,  proceeding 
upon  a  system  of  arbitrary  acts,  tending  to  injure  the  charac 
ter  and  integrity  of  the  Primary  School  Board,  in  the  minds 
of  the  citizens,  and  to  weaken  the  confidence  of  the  teachers 
in  the  legislative  powers  of  this  Board :  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  District  No.  18  have 
exercised  executive  powers,  without  being  composed  of  the 
number  of  members  required  by  the  rules,  or  being  legally 
authorized  so  to  act. 

Resolved,  That  their  proceedings,  in  regard  to  the  teachers 
in  their  district,  while  thus  legally  disqualified  by  our  rules, 
are  not,  and  cannot,  be  sanctioned  by  this  Board. 

Mr.  Wightman  proceeded  to  relate  the  circumstances 
of  the  case,  and  read  several  letters  that  had  passed 
between  the  Committee  and  teachers  of  the  district. 
Mr.  Wales  responded  in  defence  of  the  Committee, 
and  made  sundry  explanations  in  regard  to  their  action, 


ANNALS    OP   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  237 

and  submitted  a  "protest"  from  them,  against  any 
interference  in  the  affairs  of  the  district  committed 
to  their  charge. 

The  principles  involved  in  this  case,  as  to  the  powers 
of  the  District  Committees,  and  the  right  of  appeal 
from  their  decisions  to  the  Executive  Committee  and 
the  whole  Board,  led  to  a  long  and  interesting  dis 
cussion,  and  resulted  in  passing  the  first  resolution, 
by  a  vote  of  forty-four  yeas  to  fifteen  nays  •  and  of 
the  second  resolution  by  a  vote  of  thirty-seven  yeas 
to  ten  nays. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  E.  Hobart,  it  was 

Voted,  That  District  No.  18,  now  being  without  a  legally 
constituted  Committee,  be  placed  in  charge  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  in  connection  with  the  remaining  members  of  the 
District  Committee. 

After  the  passage  of  this  vote  the  Board  adjourned. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  November  6th,  the  Joint 
Committee,  in  whose  care  the  schools  in  District  No. 
18  were  placed,  made  a  report  by  the  Chairman  of 
the  Executive  Committee,  (Mr.  Wightman,)  "recom 
mending  five  gentlemen  to  fill  the  vacancies  in  said 
district ;  and  that  these  gentlemen  and  the  remaining 
members  of  the  District  Committee  be  organized, 
according  to  the  rules,  as  the  Committee  of  District 
No.  18,  and  that  the  schools  of  that  district  be  then 
placed  in  their  charge." 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  following  gentle 
men  elected,  viz. :  Albert  T.  Minot,  Charles  E.  Cook, 
Alexander  H.  Rice,  Joseph  II.  Allen,  George  W. 
McLellan. 


'J')S  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

It  was  also  "Voted,  That  Mr.  George  E.  Sampson, 
of  District  No.  18,  be  requested  to  call  the  first  meet 
ing  of  the  present  Committee,  for  organization,  under 
the  rules,  without  delay." 

In  conformity  with  this  vote,  a  meeting  of  the  Com 
mittee  was  called,  and  organized  by  the  choice  of  a 
Chairman  and  Secretary ;  but  as  the  new  members  of 
the  Committee  would  not  agree  to  the  action  or  policy 
of  the  original  members,  in  regard  to  the  teachers, 
the  subject  was  again  brought  before  the  Board  at  their 
meeting,  December  4th,  in  a  report  from  Mr.  Charles 
Edward  Cook,  the  Chairman  of  the  District  Committee, 
in  which  a  detailed  statement  of  their  proceedings  was 
given,  from  which  it  appeared  "  that  the  three  original 
members  of  the  Committee  had  resigned;  and  after 
a  careful  investigation  of  the  circumstances,  the  Com 
mittee  had  deemed  it  their  duty  to  reinstate  the  teach 
ers,  and  restore  the  schools  to  the  same  position  as  they 
were  in  July  last." 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  this  subject,  probably 
the  most  exciting  which  had  ever  agitated  the  Board, 
was  brought  to  a  final  close,  by  the  election  of  Joshua 
B.  Fowle,  William  Willett,  Aaron  II.  Bean,  and  Theo 
dore  P.  Hale,  to  fill  the  vacancies  in  the  Committee  of 
this  district. 

1850. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Primary  School  Committee, 
after  their  appointment  by  the  Grammar  Board,  was 
held  February  5th. 

JOSEPH  SMITH,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Chairman,  pro  tcm., 
who  read  the  certificate  of  appointment,  and  authority 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  239 

to  organize  themselves  and  adopt  such  rules  and  regula 
tions  for  the  schools  as  they  may  deem  expedient, 
ALVAN  SIMONDS  was  chosen  Secretary,  pro  tcm.,  and  it 
was  "  Voted.,  That  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  last 
year  be  adopted  by  this  Board  until  otherwise  ordered." 

A  Committee  of  one  from  each  district  was  appointed 
to  nominate  a  candidate  for  President,  who  subsequently 
recommended  FRANCIS  BROWN,  Esq.,  for  that  office,  and  he 
was  duly  elected.  ALVAN  SIMONDS,  Esq.,  was  also  re- 
elected  Secretary,  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

Executive  Committee  —  Joseph  M.  Wightman,  Chair 
man;  Alvan  Simonds,  Secretary  ;  John  Woart,  Dexter 
W.  Wiswell,  Samuel  F.  McCleary,  Jr.,  David  Kimball, 
James  F.  Clark,  Oliver  Dimon,  Charles  Brooks,  Thomas 
S.  Wright,  George  M.  Randall,  F.  F.  Raymond,  Alexan 
der  H.  Rice,  Charles  A.  Turner,  Francis  Brown,  Benja 
min  II.  Greene,  Theodore  D.  Cook,  Luther  Parks,  Jr., 
Thomas  Wilder,  William  H.  Calrow,  Albert  Bowker, 
Moses  J.  Gove. 

An  order  was  received  from  the  Grammar  School 
Committee,  appointing  Messrs.  J.  M.  Wightman,  Fred 
eric  Emerson,  and  Rollin  H.  Neale,  a  Committee,  to  be 
joined  by  this  Board,  "to  consider  and  report  what 
changes,  if  any,  ought  to  be  made  in  the  present 
organization  of  the  Grammar  and  Primary  School 
Committees."  Upon  which,  Messrs.  L.  S.  Cragin,  David 
Kimball,  and  Alvan  Simonds  were  joined  on  the  part 
of  Primary  School  Board. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  0.  Dimon,  it  was  unanimously 

Resolved,  That  the  late  Chairman  of  this  Board,  Eben 
Jones,  Esq.,  has  rendered  services  to  the  Public  Schools 
and  the  public  interest,  as  a  member  of  this  Board,  for 


240  ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

fourteen  years,  and  as  President  of  it  for  the  past  three 
years,  which  prompt  an  expression  of  our  thanks,  and  occa 
sion  our  sincere  regret  that  his  connection  with  the  Board 
has  necessarily  terminated.* 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  transmit  to  Mr.  Jones  a  copy 
of  the  foregoing  resolution. 

The  regular  quarterly  meeting  was  held,  March  12th, 
when  the  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  sub 
mitted  the  Semi-Annual  Report  on  the  condition  of 
the  schools  for  the  six  months  previous  to  January 
31st.  At  this  time  there  were  one  hundred  and 
seventy-six  schools,  containing  eleven  thousand  one 
hundred  and  thirty-eight  pupils.  The  average  per 
centage  of  attendance,  .76.  Eight  hundred  and 
fifty-four  examinations  had  been  made  of  the  schools 
by  the  Committee,  and  two  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifty-eight  visits  were  recorded  by  the  teachers. 

In  addition  to  the  usual  abstract,  and  in  conclusion, 
the  Executive  Committee  made  some  suggestions  on 
the  subjects  of  schools  and  school  government,  from 
which  we  copy  the  following  paragraphs: 

The  presence  of  the  Local  Committees  at  this  Semi-Annual 
examination  has  been  alluded  to  in  a  number  of  the  reports 
as  a  very  gratifying  circumstance ;  and  the  Committee  would 
also  notice  in  this  connection,  that  from  a  careful  examination 
of  the  returns,  it  is  shown  that  in  those  districts  and  schools 
in  which  the  Local  Committees  have  devoted  the  most  atten 
tion,  the  schools  arc  higher  in  character  and  proficiency  than 
any  others;  and,  as  it  has  been  expressed  by  one  of  the 
examiners,  "  the  confident  tone  of  the  reader,  the  upraised 
head,  the  fixed,  attentive  eye  and  listening  ear,  arc  unfailing 

*  Mr.  Jones  had  removed  from  the  city. 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  241 

signs  that  the  Local  Committee  of  such  a  school  has   been 
attentive  to  his  duty." 

Ventilation  is  another  subject  of  great  importance;  and 
the  Executive  Committee  deem  it  necessary  that  some  steps 
should  be  taken  to  bring  this  matter  before  the  proper 
authorities.  If,  by  the  Rules,  ventilation  is  to  be  required  of 
our  teachers,  some  means  should  be  furnished  which  does 
not  involve  the  health  and  life  of  the  children.  In  a  large 
number  of  the  schools  there  is  no  other  method  of  ventilation 
than  that  of  opening  the  windows  upon  the  backs  and  heads 
of  the  children,  a  method  as  absurd  as  it  is  cruel  and 
dangerous.  It  may  be  said  by  some  that  this  is  not  neces 
sary;  if  it  is  not  thus  ventilated,  the  choice  between  the  evils 
is  very  little ;  for  without  it  the  foetid  air,  produced  by  the 
respiration  and  the  exhalation  from  the  persons  and  clothing 
of  fifty  or  sixty  children,  whose  poverty  may  prevent  the 
necessary  change  for  cleanliness,  will,  in  a  short  time,  render 
the  odor  and  atmosphere  of  the  room  intolerable.  Such  a 
state  of  things  ought  not  to  exist.  The  Grammar  Schools 
are  almost  universally  well  ventilated;  and  the  contrast 
between  them  and  our  Primary  Schools  is  altogether  un 
reasonable.  The  children  in  our  schools  are  of  a  more 
tender  age,  and  their  little  bodies  are  more  susceptible  of 
injury  from  exposure,  or  the  neglect  of  proper  ventilation; 
and  while  we  can  but  rejoice  at  the  fostering  care  of  the 
city  displayed  towards  the  Grammar  Schools  in  this  respect, 
we  feel  that  the  Primary  Schools  have  as  high,  and  in  some 
respects  a  higher  claim  upon  their  bounty  and  attention. 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  following  orders 
were,  on  motion  of  Dr.  J.  Odin,  Jr.,  adopted : 

Ordered,  That  from  and  after  the  passage  of  this  order,  the 
sum   of  $25,  appropriated  by  the   City  Council  for  the  care 
of  each   school-room,  be  separated  from  the  amount  of  the 
quarterly  payment  on  the  teachers'  bills. 
31 


242  ANNALS    OF  THE   PRIMARY  SCHOOLS. 

Ordered,  That  the  Executive  Committee  be  directed  to  take 
such  measures  as  shall  place  the  amount  of  $25  for  each 
school,  under  the  control  of  the  several  District  Committees. 

Messrs.  Brooks,  Dexter  and  Turner  having  declined 
to  serve  on  the  Executive  Committee,  Messrs.  James  B. 
Dow,  Charles  E.  Wiggin,  and  George  W.  Parinenter, 
were  elected  to  their  places. 

DECEMBER  3.  The  subject  of  vacations  in  the  Pri 
mary  not  corresponding  to  those  in  the  Grammar 
Schools,  continued  to  be  agitated  in  the  Board,  and 
was  finally  submitted  to  a  Committee,  who  reported 
the  following  rule  as  a  substitute  for  that  in  relation 
to  the  vacations  of  this  Board : 

The  holidays  and  vacations  of  the  Primary  Schools  shall 
be  the  same  as  are  granted  to  the  Grammar  Schools, 
either  by  the  rules  of  the  Grammar  School  Committee,  or 
by  order  of  the  Mayor,  and  also  the  day  of  the  annual 
visitation  of  the  Grammar  Schools. 

Mr.  Wightman  submitted  the  following  amendment 
to  the  rules,  which  was  subsequently  adopted : 

Any  Committee  wishing  to  establish  a  new  school  in  their 
district,  shall  send  a  request  to  the  Executive  Committee  at 
least  two  weeks  before  the  quarterly  meetings ;  and  the 
Executive  Committee  shall  examine  into  the  expediency  of 
complying  with  the  request,  and  report  at  the  succeeding 
quarterly  meeting. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  in  favor  of  the 
introduction  into  the  Primary  Schools  of  the  Tables 
for  Training  the  Organs  of  Speech,  the  Punctuation 
and  the  Numeral  Table,  and  recommended  that 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  243 

they  be  furnished  to  all  those  schools  not  at  present 
supplied. 

1851. 

The  appointment  of  the  Primary  School  Committee 
having  been  made  by  the  Grammar  Board,  the  meet- 
ing  for  organization  was  held  January  27th.  BENJA 
MIN  P.  RICHARDSON,  Esq.,  was  chosen  Chairman  pro  tern., 
and  the  Board  organized  by  the  election  of  the  fol 
lowing  officers : 

President  —  FRANCIS  BROWN. 

Secretary  —  ALVAN  SIMONDS. 

Executive  Committee  —  Joseph  M.  Wightman,  Chair 
man  ;  Alvan  Simonds,  Secretary ;  Levi  Tucker,  William 
II.  Learnard,  Jr.,  Chas.  E.  Wiggin,  Samuel  F.  McCleary, 
Jr.,  James  B.  Dow,  Francis  Brown,  Benjamin  PL  Greene, 
Alexander  H.  Rice,  Luther  Parks,  Jr.,  A.  B.  Child,  Wm. 
II.  Calrow,  Moses  J.  Gove,  David  Kimball,  Charles 
Demond,  Oliver  Ditson,  Thomas  Wilder,  George  M. 
Eandall,  Albert  Bowker,  George  W.  Parmenter,  Fred. 
W.  Sawyer. 

MARCH  10.  The  Semi- Annual  Report  was  read  by 
Mr.  Wightman,  Chairman  of  Executive  Committee. 

Whole  number  of  schools,  January  31st,  .         .         189 
Whole  number  of  pupils,  January  31st,    .         .    11,788 

JUNE  5.  A  request,  signed  by  Thomas  Ranney  and 
others,  that  the  phonetic  system  of  teaching  be  intro 
duced  on  trial  into  two  of  the  Primary  Schools,  was 
referred  to  the  Executive  Committee. 

SEPTEMBER  2.  The  Semi- Annual  Report  of  the  Execu 
tive  Committee  was  presented  by  the  Secretary. 


244  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

Whole  number  of  schools,  July  31,  .  .  .  189 
Whole  number  of  pupils, .  ....  12,110 
Whole  number  attending  to  sewing,  .  .  1,444 
Whole  number  of  foreign  parentage,  .  .  6,870 
Whole  number  of  examinations  by  Committees,  1,424 

A  report  was  received  from  the  same  Committee, 
upon  the  subject  of  phonetic  instruction,  recommend 
ing  that  the  petition  of  T.  Ranney  and  others  be  com 
plied  with ;  but  not  expressing  any  opinion  of  the 
Committee  in  regard  to  its  value  or  utility  as  a  sys 
tem.  The  report  was  laid  on  the  table. 

The  Executive  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred 
the  subject  of  introducing  the  Tables  for  Training  the 
Organs  of  Speech,  for  Punctuation,  and  for  Numera 
tion,  into  those  schools  not  already  supplied,  reported 
the  following: 

Resolved,  That  the  introduction  into  some  of  the  Primary 
Schools  of  the  Table  for  Training  the  Organs  of  Speech, 
the  Punctuation  Table,  and  the  Numeral  Table,  has  much 
conduced  to  the  progress  of  the  children,  and  facilitated 
the  arduous  labors  of  the  teachers;  and  this  Board  recom 
mend  that  they  be  furnished  to  those  schools  not  already 
supplied. 

Read,  accepted,  and  the  resolve  passed. 

The  same  Committee  reported  adverse  to  the  estab 
lishment  of  a  new  school  in  District  No.  14 ;  and  also 
that  measures  must  be  taken  to  supply  accommodations 
for  School  No.  6,  East  Boston,  the  room  in  which  the 
school  was  located  having  been  burned.  School-rooms 
would  also  be  required  for  the  Primary  Schools  in  the 
Hancock  School-house,  as  the  rooms  now  occupied  were 
needed  for  the  Grammar  School  classes. 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  245 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Wightman,  it  was 

Voted,  That  Messrs.  Wightman,  Dow  and  Fowle  be  a  Com 
mittee  to  confer  with  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  of 
the  City  Council;  that  the  ordinance  may  be  so  modified  that 
the  vote  of  the  Executive  Committee  may  be  regarded  as 
sufficient  for  providing  of  the  necessary  rooms  and  furniture 
for  the  temporary  accommodation  of  primary  schools. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting,  December  2,  the  Executive 
Committee  reported  in  favor  of  new  schools  in  Districts 
Nos.  10  and  11,  and  adverse  to  the  request  of  District 
No.  9. 

The  Special  Committee,  to  whom  the  subject  of  a 
new  school  in  District  No.  14  was  referred,  reported 
that  they  had,  under  the  powers  granted  to  them,  made 
such  changes  in  the  schools  of  Districts  Nos.  13  and 
14,  as  would,  in  their  opinion,  render  a  new  school 
unnecessary. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  subject  of 
phonetics,  referred  over  from  the  September  meeting, 
was  taken  from  the  table  and  ordered  to  be  printed, 
with  the  other  matters  relating  to  the  subject,  for 
the  use  of  the  Board. 

1852. 

JANUARY  27.  The  Committee  having  been  duly  ap 
pointed  by  the  School  Committee,  were  assembled  for 
organization,  and  called  to  order  by  Mr.  L.  S.  Cragin. 
Mr.  THOMAS  WILDER  was  elected  Chairman  pro  tern.,  and 
CHARLES  DEMOND,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

A  Committee  of  one  from  each  district  being  ap 
pointed  to  nominate  candidates  for  President  and 


246  ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

Secretary,  reported  the  names  of  CHARLES  EDWARD 
COOK  for  President,  and  ALVAN  SIMONDS  for  Secretary ; 
both  of  whom  were  elected  by  ballot. 

Executive  Committee — Joseph  M.  Wightman,  Chairman ; 
Charles  Demond,  Secretary ;  John  J.  Meston,  Thomas 
Restieaux,  W.  H.  Learnard,  Jr.,  E.  D.  G.  Palmer,  Abra 
ham  G.  Wyman,  Thomas  B.  Hawkes,  David  Kimball, 
Alvan  Simonds,  Frederic  W.  Sawyer,  Win.  H.  Dennett, 
Thomas  Wilder,  George  M.  Randall,  Benj.  II.  Greene, 
Samuel  B.  Cruft,  William  S.  Thacher,  John  A.  Cum- 
mings,  Albert  Bowker,  William  II.  Cairo w,  Jackson  Rich 
ardson,  Charles  E.  Cook. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board,  March  2,  a 
communication  was  received  from  ALVAN  SIMONDS,  Esq., 
who,  on  account  of  his  health,  had  been  unable  to 
attend  to  his  duties  as  Secretary,  since  his  election  in 
January,  and  resigned  his  office,  in  the  following  letter 
to  the  President : 


BOSTON,  March  2d,  1852. 

CHARLES    E.    COOK,    Esq.,  President   of  the    Primary    School 
Committee  of  Boston: 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Committee  on  the  27th 
January  last,  they  were  pleased  for  the  twelfth  time,  unani 
mously,  to  elect  me  as  their  Secretary.  It  seems  to  be 
my  duty  now  to  resign  that  office,  which  resignation  you 
will  please  to  communicate  to  the  Board  this  evening. 
Since  I  have  held  the  office,  the  number  of  the  schools 
have  increased  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and 
ninety-two,  and  the  members  of  the  Committee  have  nearly 
doubled  in  number.  The  nature  of  the  office  has  brought 
me  in  connection  with  the  various  members  of  the  Board 


ANNALS   OF  THE  PRIMARY   SCHOOLS.  247 

very  frequently,  not  only  at  its  meetings,  but  on  numerous 
sub-committees,  as  we  met  in.  our  daily  walks,  in.  the  schools, 
and  as  we  sought  each  other's  advice  and  information,  in 
the  discharge  of  our  important  duties.  This  intercourse 
with  them  has  been  uniformly  pleasant;  and  for  all  their 
kindness,  courtesy  and  aid,  I  now  desire,  through  you,  to 
return  them  my  sincere  and  heartfelt  thanks.  With  the 
large  body  of  teachers,  past  and  present,  I  have  often  met. 
In  May,  1849,  it  was  my  privilege,  in  the  discharge  of  my 
duties,  to  do  what  I  believe  no  other  person  has  ever 
done;  that  was,  to  visit  every  school  in  the  city,  examine 
every  "  record  book,"  and  spend  a  few  minutes  in  every 
school-room.  It  may  not  be  out  of  place,  therefore,  for 
me  to  bear  testimony  also  to  the  general  high  character 
of  the  teachers  for  moral  worth,  and  for  adaptation  to 
the  high  and  noble  purposes  in  which  they  are  engaged. 

The  more  thoroughly  any  one  becomes  acquainted  with 
the  great  work  that  is  daily  going  on  in  our  Primary 
Schools,  the  more  he  must  be  convinced  of  their  import 
ance.  Here  are  one  hundred  and  ninety  teachers  in  daily 
intercourse  with  eleven  thousand  pupils.  More  than  half 
of  these  children  are  of  foreign  origin ;  and  I  am  per 
suaded  that  our  Primary  Schools  are  doing  more  to  Amer 
icanize  that  class  of  our  population  than  all  other  causes 
combined. 

In  making  up  the  reports,  from  time  to  time,  I  have 
been  astonished  to  notice  the  amount  of  gratuitous  labor 
'performed  by  very  many  members  of  the  Committee,  indi 
cating  a  devotion  to  their  duties,  and  an  appreciation  of 
their1  responsibilities  worthy  of  all  praise. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  any  movements  made  to  change 
the  present  mode  of  supervision  of  these  schools,  will  be 
made  with  calm  consideration,  and  that  they  will  be  put 
in  practice  only  upon  a  clear  conviction  of  having  found 
"  a  more  excellent  way."  After  twenty  years'  active  ser- 


248  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY   SCHOOLS. 

vice  upon  the  Board,  it  appears  to  me  that  in  practice  the 
present  system  has  done,  and  is  doing  so  well,  that  no 
mere  theory  should  take  its  place.  It  is  fashionable  in  some 
quarters  to  call  the  Primary  School  Committee  an  "  anomaly.'" 
It  may  be  so ;  but  when  such  results  are  produced  in  the 
moral  and  intellectual  improvement  of  such  a  multitude 
of  immortal  beings,  even  an  "  anomaly  "  may  be  preferable 
to  a  succession  of  doubtful  and  ever-changing  experiments. 
With  renewed  thanks  to  yourself,  and  every  member 
of  the  Board, 

I  am  your  obedient  servant, 

ALVAN  SIMON DS. 

The  resignation  of  Mr.  Simonds  was  accepted;  and 
on  motion  of  Mr.  Cragin,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  unanimous  thanks  of  this  Committee  be 
tendered  to  Alvan  Siraonds,  Esq.,  our  late  Secretary,  for 
the  prompt,  efficient,  thorough,  and  satisfactory  manner  in 
which  he  has  for  so  many  years  discharged  the  duties  of 
that  office. 

The  Board  then  proceeded  to  elect  a  Secretary, 
which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  CHARLES  DEMOND, 
Esq. 

The  President  read  a  communication  from  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Instruction,  in 
forming  the  Board  that  the  Joint  Committee  from 
the  City  Council  and  the  Grammar  School  Board, 
had  passed  the  following  vote,  viz.: 

Voted,  That  the  said  Committee  invite  the  members  of 
the  Primary  School  Board  to  appoint  a  Committee  to  meet 
and  confer  with  the  Joint  Committee,  in  relation  to  the 


ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  249 

subject  of  changing  the  organization  of  the  Primary  School 
Board. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Minot,  the  President  appointed 
Messrs.  F.  Brown,  L.  S.  Cragin,  Joseph  Smith,  David 
Kimball,  John  Odin,  Jr.,  Albert  T.  Minot,  and  B.  P. 
Richardson,  as  a  Committee  of  Conference,  to  which 
the  President  was  subsequently  added. 

Mr.  Wightrnan,  in  behalf  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
mittee,  reported  the  vacancies  which  had  occurred 
in  that  body,  viz. :  T.  Restieaux,  W.  H.  Dennett,  Geo. 
M.  Randall,  B.  H.  Greene,  Alvan  Simonds,  Charles 
E.  Cook,  and  J.  A.  Cummings;  and  recommended  to 
fill  their  places,  Charles  E.  Wiggin,  Oliver  Ditson, 
J.  B.  Dow,  Samuel  Tolman,  Caleb  Gill,  Otis  Kimball, 
and  Asa  B.  Snow. 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  persons  recom 
mended  declared  elected  as  members  of  the  Executive 
Committee. 

The  Semi-Annual  Report  of  the  Executive  Com 
mittee,  compiled  from  the  teachers'  returns,  to  Jan 
uary  31,  and  from  the  examinations  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  in  February,  was  submitted  by  the  Chair 
man,  from  which  the  following  statistics  are  presented : 

Whole  number  of  schools,       .         .         .         .  190 

Whole  number  of  pupils,         ....  11,868 

Whole  number  of  pupils  of  foreign  parentage,  6,605 

;  Average  number  of  examinations  ofeac/i  school,  5i 

Average  number  of  visits  to  each  school,          .  18  J 

Average  per  centage  of  attendance,        .         .  .78  i 

The  report  gave  an  abstract  of  the  condition  of 
the  schools,  and  recommended  some  improvements 


250  ANNALS    OF    TIIE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

that  were  required  for  the  comfort  of  the  larger 
pupils,  and  concluding  with  the  following  votes, 
which  were  unanimously  adopted : 

Voted,  That  the  Executive  Committee  apply  to  the  Com 
mittee  on  Public  Buildings  of  the  City  Council,  for  suit 
able  chairs  and  desks,  for  the  use  of  the  larger  and 
advanced  scholars  in  School  No.  8,  District  No.  9,  on  the 
Western  Avenue. 

Voted,  That  the  Executive  Committee  be  requested  to 
take  into  consideration  and  report  upon  the  expediency 
of  providing  some  form,  or  desk,  for  the  Intermediate  and 
Primary  Schools. 

Voted,  That  the  entrance  to  the  school-house  in  Bum- 
stead  Court  is  dangerous  to  the  pupils  attending  the  school; 
and  the  Committee  on  Public  Buildings  of  the  City  Council 
are  respectfully  requested  to  adopt  some  measures  to  rem 
edy  the  evil. 

JUNE  1.  Quarterly  Meeting.  —  The  rules  of  the  Gram 
mar  Board,  requiring  a  report  annually,  in  relation 
to  the  condition  of  the  Primary  Schools,  were  read ; 
whereupon  it  was  "Voted,  That  the  subject  be  re 
ferred  to  the  Executive  Committee,  with  instructions 
to  make  that  report  in  behalf  of  the  Primary  School 
Board." 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Mead,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  the  Executive  Committee  be  requested  to 
take  into  consideration  and  report  at  some  subsequent 
meeting,  whether,  in  their  opinion,  the  interests  of  the  Pri 
mary  Schools  cannot  be  promoted,  by  the  adoption  of  some 
of  the  suggestions  made  by  the  Superintendent  of  the 
Public  Schools,  in  his  late  report;  or  whether  some  change 
in  the  classification  of  the  pupils  cannot  advantageously 
be  made. 


ANNALS    OF  THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  251 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Otis  Kimball,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  the  Executive  Committee  consider  and 
report  upon  the  propriety  of  establishing  geographical  limits 
to  the  several  Primary  School  Districts. 

SEPTEMBER  7.     Quarterly  Meeting.  —  The  Semi-Annual 
Eeport  of  the  Executive  Committee  was  read  by  the 
Secretary,  by  which  it  appeared  that  the 
Whole  number  of  schools,  July  31,  1852,  was  .         193 

Number  of  pupils, 11,970 

Number  of  pupils  sent  to  Grammar  School  last 

six  months,         .         .         .         .         .         .1,497 

Number  of  pupils  prepared  for  admission,         .      1,431 
Average  attendance  to  each  school,  ...  48 

Per  centage  of  attendance  to  each  school,         .          .79 
Number  who  attend  to  sewing,          .         .         .      1,360 
Number  of  foreign  parentage,  .         .         .         .6,788 

Number  over  eight  years  of  age,  .  .  .  3,076 
Number  under  five  years  of  age,  .  .  .  1,836 
Number  of  examinations  last  six  months, .  .  1,722 
Number  of  visits  last  six  months,  .  .  .  3,704 

Mr.  Wightman,  in  behalf  of  the  Executive  Com 
mittee,  made  a  report,  returning  the  resolutions  re 
ferred  to  them  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Board, 
in  relation  to  geographical  limits,  and  to  the  report 
of  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools,  stating  their 
reasons  for  so  doing;  and  recommended  the  passage 
of  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  in  view  of  the  present  position  and  uncer 
tain  action  of  the  City  Government,  in  relation  to  the 
Primary  School  system,  it  is  inexpedient  for  this  Board 
to  take  any  further  action  upon  the  orders  in  relation  to  the 


252  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRLMARY    SCHOOLS. 

geographical  limits  of  the   districts,   or  the    suggestions  of 
the  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools,  in  his  late  report. 

On  motion  of  Dr.  John  Odin,  Jr.,  the  Executive  Com 
mittee  were  requested  to  have  printed  one  thousand 
copies  of  an  abstract  of  the  Semi-Annual  Report, 
and  of  the  report  on  the  subject  of  geographical 
limits. 

1853. 

FEBRUARY  8.  The  Primary  School  Committee  having 
been  appointed  by  the  Grammar  Board,  held  their  first 
meeting  this  evening,  and  the  following  officers  were 
elected  : 

President  —  CHARLES  EDWARD  COOK. 

Secretary  —  CHARLES  DEMOND. 

Executive  Committee  —  Joseph  M.  Wightman,  Chairman  ; 
Charles  Demond,  Secretary;  James  B.  Dow,  E.  D.  G. 
Palmer,  Thomas  Wilder,  William  II.  Calrow,  Oliver 
Ditson,  Caleb  Gill,  Abraham  G.  Wyman,  Thomas  B. 
Ilawkes,  John  J.  Meston,  Jackson  Richardson,  Philo 
Sanford,  N.  C.  Stevens,  E.  W.  Blake,  James  N.  Sykes, 
Stephen  Tilton,  Jr.,  William  Read,  Samuel  G.  Bowdlear, 
Isaiah  Faxon,  Henry  L.  Dalton,  S.  J.  M.  Homer. 

On  motion  of  James  B.  Dow,  it  was 

Voted,  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  take  into  con 
sideration  the  subject  whether  it  is  expedient  or  desirable 
to  make  any  alteration  in  the  organization  of  this  Board, 
to  render  it  more  efficient  in  promoting  the  best  welfare 
of  the  Primary  Schools  of  this  city,  and  report  at  a  future 
meeting. 

MARCH  14.  Quarterly  Meeting.  —  The  Semi-Annual 
Report  of  the  Executive  Committee  was  presented  by 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  253 

the  Chairman,  and  one  thousand  copies  ordered  to  be 
printed.  The  following  orders,  appended  to  the  report, 
were  adopted  : 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  prepare 
a  revision  of  the  Eules  and  Regulations  of  this  Board,  and 
to  recommend  such  alterations  and  amendments  as  they  may 
deem  expedient,  and  report  the  same  to  the  Board  at  the 
next  quarterly  meeting. 

Ordered,  That  a  Committee  of  one  from  each  district  be 
appointed  to  take  into  consideration  and  report  upon  a 
reorganization  of  the  schools  into  new  districts,  so  that 
the  number  of  schools  in  each  district  may  be  more  conve 
nient  and  uniform. 

Resolved,  That  the  salaries  of  the  teachers  in  the  Primary 
Schools  should  be  the  same  as  is  paid  to  the  female  teachers 
in  the  Grammar  Schools ;  and  that  the  Executive  Committee 
be  directed  to  lay  this  subject  before  the  proper  authorities. 

DECEMBER  15.  The  Committee  on  the  Ke vision  of  the 
Rules  submitted  their  report,  which  was  adopted,  and 
two  hundred  and  fifty  copies  of  the  same  were  ordered 
to  be  printed. 

The  Board  also  deemed  it  inexpedient  to  make  any 
reorganization  of  the  districts. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Executive  Commit 
tee,  a  new  school  wras  established  in  Porter  street,  East 
Boston ;  and  the  Secretary  was  directed  to  request  the 
Committee  on  Public  Buildings  of  the  City  Council, 
to  provide  the  usual  furniture  for  this  school. 

1854. 

JANUARY  31.  The  first  meeting  of  the  members  of 
the  Primary  School  Committee  for  the  current  year, 
was  held  this  evening. 


254         ANNALS  OF  THE  PRIMARY  SCHOOLS. 

A  communication  was  read  from  Hon.  CHARLES 
EDWARD  COOK,  declining  to  be  a  candidate  for  Presi 
dent,  after  which  the  Board  was  organized  by  the 
choice  of  the  following  officers : 

President  —  ALVAN  SIMONDS. 

Secretary  —  CHARLES  DEMOND. 

Executive  Committee  —  Joseph  M.  Wightman,  Chair 
man  ;  Charles  Demond,  Secretary ;  James  B.  Dow,  E. 
D.  G.  Palmer,  William  II.  Calrow,  Oliver  Ditson,  Caleb 
Gill,  Abraham  G.  Wyman,  Thomas  B.  Hawkes,  Jackson 
Richardson,  Philo  Sanford,  N.  C.  Stevens,  James  N. 
Sykes,  Stephen  Tilton,  Jr.,  William  Read,  Samuel  G. 
Bowdlear,  S.  J.  M.  Homer,  Elijah  Stearns,  N.  P.  Mann, 
Edmund  T.  Eastman,  II.  W.  Williams,  Thomas  F.  Caldi- 
cott,  Charles  A.  Turner. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Wightman,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  several  District  Committees  be  requested, 
annually,  to  select  either  their  Chairman  or  their  Secretary 
to  provide  articles  required  by  the  teachers,  in  conformity 
with  the  order  of  the  City  Council,  passed  May  30,  1853. 

Voted,  That  the  Secretary  of  each  district  be  requested  to 
furnish  the  Secretary  of  this  Board  with  the  length  of  time 
of  service  of  each  teacher  of  the  Primary  Schools  in  his 
district,  on  or  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  April  next. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Otis  Kimball,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Board  be  presented  to  the 
Hon.  CHARLES  EDWARD  COOK,  for  the  faithful,  courteous,  and 
dignified  manner  in  which  he  has  performed  the  duties  of 
presiding  officer  during  the  past  year;  and  that  a  copy  of  this 
vote,  signed  by  the  President,  be  transmitted  to  him. 

MARCH  14.     The   Semi-Annual   Report   of  the    Ex- 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  255 

ecutive  Committee  was  presented  by  Mr.  Wightman, 
and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

A  communication  was  received  from  the  Grammar 
Board,  announcing  a  change  in  the  hours  of  opening 
the  schools  under  their  charge ;  and  the  rules  of  the 
Primary  Schools  were  amended  to  conform  thereto. 

SEPTEMBER  12.  Mr.  Demond,  in  behalf  of  the  Ex 
ecutive  Committee,  read  the  Semi-Annual  Report, 
which  was  accepted,  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

By  an  amendment  to  the  City  Charter,  which  had 
been  adopted  by  the  citizens,  the  Grammar  School 
Committee  was  increased  to  seventy-two  members, 
who  were  to  have  direct  charge  of  the  Primary 
Schools,  and  supersede  the  organization  of  the  Pri 
mary  School  Committee.  As  the  act  in  relation  to 
a  new  Committee  would  go  into  operation  on  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1855,  the  following  com 
munication  was  addressed  to  the  City  Solicitor: 

BOSTON,  November  2d,  1854. 
Hon.   GEORGE  S.  HILLARD,  City  Solicitor  : 

Sir: —  The  undersigned,  officers  of  the  Primary  School 
Committee  of  Boston,  desire  to  ask  your  advice  and  opinion 
upon  certain  points  relating  to  the  operation  of  the  new  City 
Charter  upon  that  Board. 

Under  the  vote  and  rule  on  page  second  of  the  pamphlet, 
herewith  transmitted,*  the  present  Primary  School  Committee 
were  appointed,  with  the  powers  and  duties  therein  named; 
and  have  proceeded  to  execute  said  trust,  under  the  .rules 
adopted  in  the  same  pamphlet.  They  have  elected  teachers, 
according  to  section  9,  page  12,  most  of  them,  for  the  school 

*  Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  Primary  Schools. 


256  ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

year,  ending  with  July  next,  and  have  given  them  certificates 
of  appointment. 

It  has  been  usual  for  the  Grammar  School  Committee  to 
appoint  the  Primary  Board  near  the  close  of  January  in  each 
year,  and  for  the  previous  Committee  to  have  charge  of  the 
schools  until  the  next  annual  appointment,  and  to  receive  the 
returns  and  make  up  the  Semi- Annual  Report  to  the  31st  of 
January,  annually. 

By  the  City  Charter,  just  adopted,  to  take  effect  on  the 
first  Monday  of  January  next,  in  sections  54,  55  and  56,  it  is 
generally  supposed  that  the  present  Primary  School  Commit 
tee  is  abolished.  We  would,  therefore,  respectfully  request 
of  you  information  on  the  following  points,  viz  : 

First.  When  do  the  duties  of  the  present  Primary  School 
Committee  cease  ?  On  the  first  Monday  in  January,  when 
the  charter  takes  effect ;  on  the  second  Monday  in  January, 
when  the  Committee  of  seventy-two  are  to  organize;  or 
should  they  continue  to  act  through  the  month  of  January, 
and  make  up  the  Semi- Annual  Report  ?  And  at  what  time 
is  it  proper  for  them  to  surrender  the  one  hundred  and 
ninety-seven  schools  under  their  charge,  with  all  their 
records,  books  and  papers,  to  the  School  Committee  chosen 
under  the  new  charter? 

Second.  When  does  the  time  of  service  of  the  teachers 
cease,  under  their  present  appointment?  and  can  they 
properly  continue  and  be  the  legal  instructors  of  the  schools, 
after  the  first  or  second  Monday  in  January  next? 

Third.  Will  it  be  competent  for  the  persons  chosen  as 
School  Committee,  by  virtue  of  the  new  charter,  under  the 
power  given  by  section  55,  to  "  choose  such  subordinate 
officers  as  they  may  deem  expedient,"  to  appoint  any  num 
ber  of  persons  which  they  may  judge  suitable;  to  aid  them 
in  the  care  and  examinations  of  the  Primary  Schools,  with 
out  compensation ;  somewhat  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
Primary  School  Committee  have  done  in  past  years? 


ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  257 

We  require  an  answer  to  the  first  question,  that  we  may 
not,  on  the  one  hand,  seem  to  desire  to  hold  our  offices 
too  long,  nor,  on  the  other,  to  abandon  a  post  of  duty  at 
too  early  a  day. 

We  require  an  answer  to  the  second  question  for  the 
information  of  the  teachers. 

The  third  question  is  prompted  by  the  deep  interest  we 
feel  in  the  Primary  Schools,  from  our  long  connection 
with  them;  and  our  desire  that  the  new  plan  in  regard  to 
them  should  be  fully  understood,  and  put  in  operation, 
from  the  first,  in  the  best  manner,  without  subjecting  them 
to  experiments  or  want  of  proper  supervision. 

We  apprehend  that  some  gentlemen,  whose  services  have 
been  found  valuable  on  the  Grammar  School  Committee, 
will  shrink  from  the  service  if  the  whole  labor  and  care 
of  nearly  two  hundred  Primary  Schools  were  added  to  their 
labors.  We  believe,  also,  that  if  it  be  legal  and  proper  to 
receive  the  voluntary  and  unpaid  services  of  many  of  our 
active,  benevolent  citizens,  like  some  of  those  who  have 
heretofore  served  for  many  years  on  the  Primary  School 
Committee,  great  advantages  would  result  to  the  schools. 

As  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Board  occurs  on  the  2d 
Tuesday  in  December,  if  your  duties  will  permit  you  to 
favor  us  with  a  reply  to  the  foregoing  in  season  for  the 
meeting,  it  will  greatly  oblige 

Yours  respectfully, 

ALVAN  SIMONDS,  President. 

JOSEPH  M.  WIGHTMAN,  Ch'n  Ex.  Com. 

CHARLES  DEMOND,  Secretary. 

In  his  reply,  the  City  Solicitor  stated,  that  in  his 
opinion  — 

The  duties  of  the  Primary  School  Committee  would  cease 
on  the  organization  of  the  new  Grammar  Board.  That  the 


258  ANNALS    OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

teachers  would  continue  their  terra  of  service  under  the 
new  organization ;  and  that  it  would  not  be  proper  for  the 
new  Board  to  substantially  continue  the  Primary  School 
Committee,  inasmuch  as  the  former  had  been  largely  in 
creased,  upon  the  express  understanding  that  the  latter 
body  was  to  be  superseded. 

This  correspondence  was  submitted  to  the  Board 
at  their  meeting,  December  5th,  by  the  Chairman 
of  the  Executive  Committee ;  and  on  his  motion  the 
following  orders  were  read  and  laid  upon  the  table : 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  be,  and  he  hereby  is,  author 
ized  and  instructed  to  address  a  communication  to  the  School 
Committee,  who  are  to  meet  for  organization  on  the  second 
Monday  of  January  next,  and  inform  them,  in  behalf  of  this 
Committee,  that  the  schools,  records  and  papers  of  which 
the  Primary  School  Committee  have  had  charge,  are  subject 
to  the  order  and  direction  of  said  School  Committee. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretaries  of  the  several  districts  are 
hereby  requested  to  forward  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Board, 
the  records  of  their  several  districts,  on  or  before  the  second 
Monday  of  January  next. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Marvin,  it  was 

Voted,  That  the  Executive  Committee  be  requested  to  draw 
up  a  brief  history  of  the  Primary  School  Committee,  from 
their  organization  to  the  present  time. 

After  which,  the  Board  adjourned  to  meet  on  the 
evening  of  the  first  Tuesday  in  January  next  ensuing. 


ANNALS    OF    THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  259 


1855. 

FINAL   MEETING    OF   THE    BOARD. 

JANUARY  2.  In  conformity  with  the  vote  passed  at 
the  preceding  meeting,  Mr.  Wightman,  in  behalf  of 
the  Executive  Committee,  presented  a  historical  sketch 
of  the  Primary  School  Board,  from  its  first  establish 
ment,  which  was  recommitted  to  Messrs.  Sirnonds, 
Demond,  and  Wightman,  with  a  request  that  one 
thousand  copies  of  the  same  be  printed  for  the  use 
of  the  Board,  if  the  Committee  deem  it  expedient. 

The  orders  in  relation  to  the  records  read  at  the 
last  meeting,  were  taken  from  the  table  and  passed. 

The  business  of  the  meeting  having  been  thus 
accomplished,  Mr.  Wightman  submitted  the  following 
resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Board  be  presented  to 
Alvan  Simonds,  Esq.,  for  the  very  acceptable  manner  in  which 
he  has  performed  the  duties  of  President  of  the  Board. 

The   President  responded  thus: 

Gentlemen  of  the  Primary  School  Committee :  —  Accept  my 
warmest  thanks  for  the  vote  just  passed  —  for  the  kindness 
ever  manifested  towards -me,  and  especially  for  your  friendly 
cooperation  and  sympathy  during  the  past  year,  when  called 
to  preside  in  your  meetings,  and  that  you  have  thrown  the 
kind  mantle  of  charity  over  my  inexperience  and  shortcomings. 

Our  duties,  as  members  of  the  Primary  School  Committee, 
are  now  closing.  Our  appointment,  received  one  year  since, 
is  about  to  expire.  Many  of  us  have  been  honored  with 


2GO  ANNALS   OF   THE   PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

reappointments  from  year  to  year.  For  one,  it  has  been  my 
privilege,  by  reelection  from  time  to  time,  to  have  been  a 
member  of  this  body  for  twenty-one  successive  years. 

I  can  recognize  among  the  members  the  names  of  Bum- 
stead,  Marvin,  Cragin,  and  Brown,  who  are  my  seniors  in 
office.  It  is  because  the  Grammar  School  Committee  (them 
selves  subject  to  annual  changes)  have  been  pleased  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  continued  services  of  gentlemen  upon  this 
Board,  that  the  impression  had  obtained  in  many  minds,  that 
this  was  a  perpetual  self-appointing  Committee.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  our  existence  has  been  (as  legally  defined)  only  like 
that  of  a  sub-committee,  and  expired  annually.  Towards  the 
selection  of  no  officer  or  officers  in  this  city  has  a  more  rigid 
scrutiny  been  observed.  We  have  had  no  money  at  our  dis 
posal,  we  have  asked  or  desired  no  pecuniary  reward;  no 
suppers,  no  excursions,  as  a  body,  or  as  sub-committees,  at 
the  public  expense,  have  been  ours. 

By  the  new  city  charter  the  number  of  the  Grammar  School 
Committee  is  increased,  and  the  whole  care  of  the  Primary 
Schools  is  transferred  to  their  hands.  We  take  leave  of  the 
pleasures,  the  cares,  the  labors  and  the  responsibilities  of  the 
office,  without  any  regret,  except  that  we  have  been  no  more 
faithful  in  improving  the  opportunities  afforded  us  for  doing 
good.  Whatever  the  private  views  of  some  members  may 
be,  as  to  the  utility  of  the  change,  it  becomes  not  me  to 
prophesy  evil,  nor  prejudge  unfavorably  the  operations  of 
the  new  system.  We  love  the  cause  of  primary  instruction 
too  well ;  our  experience  leads  us  to  see  and  feel  its  import 
ance  too  deeply,  for  any  wish  even  to  find  a  place  in  our 
hearts,  except  an  earnest  hope  and  expectation  of  its  in 
creased  prosperity.  Our  desires  are  that  these  schools  may 
have  a  more  vigilant  and  effective  supervision,  and  a  more 
enlarged  success  under  the  new  arrangements  where  they 
are  now  to  be  placed.  We  recognize  many  names  among 
those  to  have  charge  of  them  of  enlarged  experience,  and 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  261 

whose  delight  it  is  to  do  good.  By  their  devotion  of  the 
time  needed  for  the  examination  and  supervision  of  these 
schools,  we  may  safely  hope  that  under  the  new  organization 
even  brighter  days  are  in  reserve  for  them. 

Allow  me  to  congratulate  you,  my  friends,  and  all  our  fel 
low-citizens,  on  the  success  which  has  attended  our  schools, 
and  on  the  good  accomplished  by  them.  A  devoted  attention 
to  their  wants  and  interests  has  led  you  to  adopt  a  course 
of  study,  a  system  of  supervision  and  of  examinations  of 
these  schools,  which  have  been  most  beneficial  in  their  results, 
and  which  have  stood  the  test  of  experience.  Great  improve 
ments  have  also  been  made  in  school  buildings  —  in  the  ven 
tilation  of  the  school-rooms  —  in  providing  comfortable  scats, 
and  such  physical  exercises  within  and  without  the  schools  as 
secure  health  and  prevent  weariness.  A  thorough  examina 
tion  of  candidates  for  teachers,  and  great  care  in  their  selec 
tion,  have  been  well  repaid  by  a  knowledge  of  their  fitness  and 
their  success.  The  frequent  visits  to  every  school,  and  the 
monthly  examinations  by  the  Local  Committees,  have  aided 
and  cheered  the  teacher  —  have  encouraged  and  instructed 
the  pupils. 

The  system  of  thorough  examinations  semi-annually,  by  the 
District  Committee  collectively,  or  by  the  Executive  Commit 
tee,  when  the  schools  of  each  district  were  brought  together; 
when  the  faults  or  excellences  of  each  school  were  power 
fully  though  silently  presented  to  the  notice  of  each  instructor, 
by  contrasts,  has  admirably  contributed  to  raise  the  character 
of  the  schools.  The  semi-annual  gatherings  of  the  teachers 
to  hear  the  reports  of  the  defects  or  excellences  found  in  the 
schools,  have  been  attended  with  favorable  results.  You  have 
bestowed  much. time  and  labor  to  the  care  of  the  schools. 
As  evidence  of  this,  I  may  point  to  the  abstract  of  the  teach 
ers'  reports  in  July  last,  for  the  preceding  six  months.  They 
record  in  that  time  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-four 
examinations,  or  an  average  of  more  than  nine  to  a  school, 


2G2  ANNALS    OF    THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS. 

and  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty-five  visits,  or  more 
than  eighteen  to  each  of  the  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven 
schools. 

This  constant  watchfulness,  the  aid  and  encouragement  thus 
afforded  to  the  teachers  and  pupils,  has  done  much  towards 
making  our  schools  what  they  arc,  and  cannot  be  dispensed 
with  without  essential  injury.  Nothing  so  much  inspires  and 
encourages  the  teacher,  as  the  kind  aid  and  advice  of  those 
who  seek  the  welfare  of  the  young.  The  good  effect  upon 
the  children,  of  a  friendly  visit,  and  a  few  words  of  advice 
and  of  encouragement,  is  truly  wonderful.  It  is  but  half 
known  to  those  who  have  seen  it,  and,  therefore,  have  re 
alized  it  the  most.  There  are  those  among  you  who  have 
found  and  have  given  pleasure  in  frequent  visits  to  these 
schools;  in  addressing  a  few  words  to  these  ever-listening 
little  ones,  on  their  studies,  their  manners,  or  their  morals. 

Desires  for  good,  and  a  conviction  of  the  misery  to  which 
evil  courses  lead,  have  thus  been  excited  in  these  little  minds, 
which  will  have  an  effect  upon  them  through  their  whole  lives. 
Winning  orators,  wise  men,  great  statesmen,  may  employ 
hours  in  eloquent  and  powerful  speeches  in  halls  of  legisla 
tion,  and  produce  little  practical  effects,  for  they  address 
minds  already  made  up  or  bound  down  by  party  or  sectional 
ties;  but  one  who  has  the  privilege  of  addressing  the  im 
pressible  minds  in  a  Primary  School  wields  a  power  for  good 
not  found  in  the  Legislature  or  in  the  Congress  of  our  nation. 
A  trust  so  weighty,  a  privilege  so  exalted,  has  been  yours. 
That  it  has  been  often  well  used,  many  can  testify. 

The  moral  power  of  these  schools  is  very  great.  They 
have  done  and  are  doing  more,  I  almost  believe,  than  all 
other  causes  combined  to  Americanize  our  foreign  population. 

While  in  our  Grammar  Schools  the  use  of  the  Bible  is 
almost,  if  not  wholly,  confined  to  the  reading  of  it  by  the 
teachers  in  the  pupils'  presence,  in  the  Primary  Schools  it  is 
a  part  of  the  regular  reading  lessons  for  the  upper  classes. 


ANNALS    OF   THE    PRIMARY    SCHOOLS.  263 

The  Ten  Commandments  and  the  Lord's  Prayer  arc  so 
taught  and  imprinted  on  the  memory  as  rarely  to  be  for 
gotten.  The  worship  of  the  true  God,  and  of  him  only,  the 
evil  nature  and  tendencies  of  the  sins  forbidden  in  the  Deca 
logue,  and  the  pleasantness  of  the  path  of  truth  and  virtue 
as  there  recommended,  are  thus  deeply  impressed  on  the 
minds  of  the  young. 

Pain,  pleasure  and  hope  mingle  in  this  parting  hour.  Pain, 
in  severing  our  pleasant  connections  in  the  Board,  and  in 
reflecting  on  opportunities  for  doing  good  which  we  may  have 
neglected ;  pleasure,  in  the  belief  that  we  may  have  usefully 
served  our  beloved  city  and  the  young,  in  this  humble 
capacity,  and  in  the  good  accomplished ;  hope,  in  the  future 
prosperity  and  continued  usefulness  of  these  schools,  and  that 
there  shall  rise  up  from  them,  those  who  will  uphold  and 
maintain  all  the  best  interests  of  Boston,  and  will  finally 
meet  us,  and  the  faithful  teachers,  and  our  beloved  associates 
of  precious  memory  who  have  gone  before  us,  in  the  better 
"  City  of  our  God  "  above. 

The  thanks  of  the  Board  were  also  voted  to  the 
Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  for  the  inter 
esting  report  he  had  submitted,  and  for  the  manner 
in  which  he  had  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office. 
A  similar  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  to  the  Secre 
tary,  who  responded  in  a  brief  address. 

Many  very  interesting  reminiscences  and  remarks 
were  made  by  a  number  of  the  oldest  members,  among 
whom  were  Messrs.  Marvin,  Bumstead,  Wilder,  Marsh, 
Sleeper,  Norcross,  "Weltch,  Howland,  Cragin,  and  Greene, 
all  of  whom  expressed  their  deep  interest  in  the 
schools,  and  their  intention  to  continue  to  visit  them 
as  citizens,  and  unofficially  to  aid  and  cooperate  with 
the  new  organization  of  the  School  Committee  in  sus- 


264        ANNALS  OF  THE  PRDIARY  SCHOOLS. 

taining  and  improving  these  educational  nurseries  of 
our  city. 

Mr.  Dale,  Chairman  in  District  No.  15,  stated,  "  that 
on  Wednesday  morning  the  Committee  propose  to  meet 
the  First  and  Second  Classes  of  all  the  schools  in  the 
district,  eight  in  number,  and  that  farewell  speeches 
will  then  be  made;  the  Committee  will  present  each 
scholar  with  a  Bible  and  dictionary." 

Mr.  Wightman  offered  the  following  resolve,  prefac 
ing  it  with  a  few  remarks,  complimentary  to  the  daily 
press : 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Primary  School  Commit 
tee  are  due  to  the  reporters  and  conductors  of  the  public 
press,  for  their  very  full,  elaborate  and  accurate  reports  of 
the  proceedings  of  this  Board. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  by  a  unanimous  vote; 
and  at  ten  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  Boston  Primary  School 
Committee  adjourned  sine  die. 


REVIEW. 


CAUSES    OF   THE    DISSOLUTION    OF   THE   PRIMARY    BOARD. 

IN  reviewing  these  annals  of  the  Primary  Schools, 
from  their  commencement  to  the  close  of  their  exist 
ence,  as  a  separate  organization,  there  is  a  strong  feel 
ing  of  gratification  that  so  noble  a  mission,  in  the  cause 
of  popular  education,  should  have  been  so  successful  in 
accomplishing  the  objects  for  which  it  was  originally 
established. 

Its  eminent  conservatism,  —  its  entire  freedom  from 
political  bias  in  the  selection  of  members,  —  the  per 
sonal  responsibility  of  each  member  to  a  faithful  dis 
charge  of  his  duties,  —  its  .  careful  watchfulness  over 
the  schools  under  their  control,  —  its  strict  adherence 
to  the  powers  conferred  by  the  City  Government,  never 
exceeding,  in  a  single  instance,  the  authority  with 
which  it  was  invested,  —  and  its  acknowledged  success 
for  thirty-six  successive  years,  renders  an  explanation 
of  the  causes,  which  resulted  in  its  dissolution,  import 
ant  to  a  correct  history,  and  an  act  of  justice  to  the 
earnest  and  disinterested  devotion  of  those  citizens  who 
have  served  upon  the  Board. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
Grammar  Board,  on  the  suggestions  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  State  Board  of  Education,  (Hon.  HORACE  MANN,)  in 

34 


266  REVIEW. 

1838,  as  the  first  overt  act  of  opposition  to  the  organi 
zation  of  the  Primary  Board ;  and  although  other 
causes,  undoubtedly,  had  an  influence,  it  is  to  the  resist 
ance  then  made,  to  the  course  of  the  Secretary  and  his 
friends,  that  we  may  attribute  much  of  the  subsequent 
agitation,  and  endeavor  to  bring  the  Primary  Schools 
under  the  exclusive  control  of  the  Grammar  Board. 

The  doctrine  of  "  centralization,"  initiated  by  Mr. 
Mann,  had  its  advocates,  not  only  in  the  Grammar 
School  Committee,  but  in  the  City  Council,  who  were 
impressed  with  the  idea  that  economy,  progress,  and 
complete  success  in  the  administration  of  our  schools, 
were  to  be  attained  by  making  our  whole  educational 
system  a  "  unit ; "  and  placing  it  under  the  supervision 
of  a  "  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools." 

The  natural  conservatism  of  our  citizens,  in  regard  to 
public  matters,  is  proverbial;  and  the  entire  change 
proposed,  in  the  organization  of  the  Boston  schools, 
excited  considerable  feeling,  which  became  more  or 
less  partisan  in  its  character,  until  it  appears  to  have 
culminated  in  1845,  in  an  open  issue  between  the  Bos 
ton  schoolmasters  and  Mr.  Mann.  Impatient  of  criti 
cism,  and  submitting  to  no  opposition,  the  Secretary,  in 
this  controversy,  exhibited  his  usual  zeal  in  defence  of 
his  opinions,  and  aided  by  the  prestige  of  his  official 
station,  and  the  active  cooperation  of  his  friends,  the 
masters  were  silenced ;  and  means  were  adopted  by 
which  a  large  majority  of  those  subsequently  elected  to 
the  School  Committee,  were  in  favor  of  Mr.  Mann  and 
his  peculiar  views.  From  this  time  annual  attempts 
were  made  to  establish  the  office  of  "  Superintendent ; " 
but  as  this  required  the  concurrent  action  of  both 


REVIEW.  267 

branches  of  the  City  Council  and  of  the  Grammar 
Board,  the  measure  was  defeated  in  one  branch  or  the 
other  until  April,  1851. 

In  the  meantime  it  was  evident  that  the  Primary 
Board,  being  the  exponent  of  the  principle  of  "  dif 
fusion,"  instead  of  "  centralization  "  of  power,  presented 
a  serious  barrier  to  the  success  of  the  new  system ;  and 
accordingly  a  regular  crusade  was  commenced  upon  it, 
as  an  organization,  in  the  inaugural  address  of  the 
Mayor,  (Hon.  JOHN  P.  BIGELOW,)  in  January,  1850,  in 
which  he  makes  the  following  exposition  of  the  grounds 
of  opposition  to  the  Primary  Board : 

I  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  Public  Schools,  in  general, 
were  never  in  a  more  satisfactory  state  than  at  the  present 
time ;  and  that  the  Committees  having  them  in  charge,  during 
the  past  year,  have  faithfully  and  efficiently  performed  their 
duties.  But  I  cannot  overlook  the  fact  that  one  of  these 
Committees  (that  having  direction  of  the  Primary  Schools) 
is  constituted  in  a  way  which  is  entirely  anomalous  to  the 
genius  of  our  institutions  —  although  the  members  themselves 
are  deservedly  held  in  grateful  respect  by  the  people  for 
their  services. 

This  Board,  which  consists  of  about  one  hundred  and 
seventy  individuals,  (one  to  each  school)  having  charge  of 
more  than  half  the  public  pupils,  and  of  the  expenditure  of  a 
very  great  amount  of  the  public  moneys,  is  not  chosen  by  the 
people,  nor  by  the  City  Government.  Its  vacancies,  as  they 
occur,  are  filled  by  the  remaining  members,  in  the  manner  of 
close  corporations,  —  the  people,  over  whose  affairs  they 
exercise  such  an  important  control,  having  no  voice  in  the 
matter  whatsoever.  The  principle  is  utterly  wrong,  and  of 
course,  sooner  or  later,  will  be  productive  of  practical  evil. 
The  body  itself,  as  the  schools  have  increased  in  number,  has 


268  REVIEW. 

already  become  inconveniently  large  for  mutual  consultation, 
and  advantageous  cooperation.  There  is  no  good  reason  why 
so  important  a  Board,  (which  is  not  even  recognized  in  our 
charter,)  should  not  derive  its  power  from,  and  be  responsible 
to,  the  people,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Committee  having 
charge  of  the  Grammar  Schools,  —  and  I  recommend  the 
adoption  of  such  measures  as  shall  remedy  the  defect. 

This  was  followed  by  a  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Public  Instruction,  in  October,  substantially  reiterating 
the  same  views ;  but  as  the  efforts  to  establish  the  office 
of  Superintendent  had  not  been  successful,  further 
action,  in  relation  to  the  Primary  Board,  was  suspended, 
until  a  report  on  the  whole  subject  of  the  reorganiza 
tion  of  the  school  system  could  be  prepared. 

The  office  having  been  established,  and  a  Superin 
tendent  of  Public  Schools  elected,  in  1851,  the  Primary 
Board  was  again  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  City 
Council,  in  January,  1852,  by  the  Mayor,  (Hon.  Benja 
min  Seaver,)  who  addressed  a  special  communication  to 
the  President  of  the  Common  Council,  on  "  The  Present 
Organization  of  the  Grammar  and  Primary  School  Com 
mittees."  This  communication  was  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  Public  Instruction,  who,  in  April,  submit 
ted  a  very  elaborate  report,  by  their  Chairman,  (Samp 
son  Reed,  Esq.,*)  in  which,  after  glancing  at  the  early 
history  of  the  schools,  and  the  establishment  of  the  Pri 
mary  Board,  the  following  grounds  were  urged  against 
the  continuance  of  the  latter :  First,  because  of  its 
questionable  legality ;  second,  because,  as  a  deliberat 
ive  or  executive  body,  it  had  become  too  numerous  for 
the  purposes  entrusted  to  its  care ;  third,  because  of 
\ 

*  City  Document  No.  22,  1852. 


KEVIEW.  269 

the  mode  in  which  its  members  were  elected  and  vacan 
cies  filled ;  and  fourth,  because  its  continuance  per 
petuated  a  want  of  unity  in  our  school  system. 

The  arguments  adduced  in  support  of  these  propo 
sitions  were  ably  presented  in  the  report,  and  have  been 
so  frequently  referred  to  in  various  reports  of  the 
Grammar  School  Committee,  as  to  render  it  unneces 
sary  to  present  them  at  this  time. 

If,  therefore,  to  the  several  grounds  of  opposition,  as 
enumerated  in  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Public 
Instruction,  we  add  the  declaration  of  the  Mayor,  that 
"  the  constitution  of  this  Committee  is  anomalous  to  the 
genius  of  our  institutions,"  and  the  charge,  that  "  they 
have  the  expenditure  of  a  very  large  amount  of  the 
public  moneys,  without  being  chosen  by  the  people  or 
by  the  City  Government,"  —  we  shall  have  a  full  expo 
sition  of  the  reasons,  which,  in  various  forms  and  at 
sundry  times,  were  urged  as  good  and  sufficient  for  the 
dissolution  of  the  Primary  Board. 

A  general  response  to  all  these  statements  and  argu 
ments  might  be,  that,  admitting  all  these  propositions 
and  charges  to  be  true,  —  in  what  manner  had  the  pub 
lic  interest,  our  schools,  or  the  cause  of  education, 
suffered  from  the  "  anomalous "  character  or  the  exer 
cise  of  these  powers,  by  the  Primary  School  Commit 
tee  ?  The  several  documents,  in  relation  to  the  subject, 
answer  the  question. 

Mayor  Bigelow  says  of  the  Committee,  u  The  mem 
bers  themselves  are  deservedly  held  in  grateful  respect 
by  the  people  for  their  services ; "  and  the  Committee 
on  Public  Instruction,  of  the  same  year,  add  - 


270  REVIEW. 

Your  Committee  cannot,  however,  in  justice  to  those  of  our 
fellow-citizens,  by  whose  public  spirit  and  devotion,  the  one 
hundred  and  seventy-eight  Primary  Schools  of  our  city  are 
regulated  and  controlled,  dismiss  the  subject  without  adding 
their  testimony  to  that  of  His  Honor  the  Mayor,  in  favor  of 
the  zeal  and  efficiency  evinced  by  the  Primary  School  Board. 
Though  elected  by  a  wrong  system,  these  gentlemen  have  per 
formed  the  arduous  duties  of  their  station  in  an  able  manner, 
and  to  their  enlightened  action  is  the  present  satisfactory 
condition  of  the  schools  mainly  attributable. 

Those  schools  indicate  how  successfully  the  action  of  tal 
ented  and  devoted  agents  can  overcome  radical  defects  in  the 
system  by  which  those  agents  were  placed  in  power. 

These  opinions  are  confirmed  by  the  report  of  the 
same  Committee,  in  1S52,*  as  follows : 

Little  was  it  probably  thought,  at  the  commencement  of 
these  schools,  that  this  humble  beginning  would  grow  into  the 
great  system  which  now  exists,  underlying  our  whole  school 
system  as  its  ground  work,  and  affording  the  means  of  educa 
tion,  not  only  to  the  poor  and  neglected,  but  to  all  classes  of 
society,  however  intelligent  or  wealthy.  There  are  now  no 
less  than  forty-five  Primary  School-houses,  many  of  them  ele 
gant  structures.  There  are  one  hundred  and  ninety  Primary 
Schools.  The  number  of  pupils  instructed  in  them  is  eleven 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-eight !  and  the  expenditure 
for  their  support  the  last  year,  was  $97,648  47  for  current 
expenses;  and  $51,010  C9  for  school-houses,  making  a  total 
of  $130,659  16.  The  statement  of  these  facts  is  in  itself  a 
well  merited  compliment  to  those  gentlemen  who  first  inter 
ested  themselves  in  this  cause,  and  to  those  who  have  from 
time  to  time  devoted  themselves  with  so  much  zeal  and  useful 
ness  in  its  service.  And  it  may  be  proper  to  premise,  before 

*  City  Document  No.  22. 


KEVIEW.  271 

proceeding  further,  that  all  our  remarks  are  made  with  entire 
respect  to  those  individuals  who  have  comprised  the  Primary 
Sohool  Board  in  times  past,  or  who  at  present  comprise  it, 
and  apply,  not  to  the  persons,  but  to  the  system.  The  cata 
logue  of  the  names  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  served  on 
that  Committee,  contains  those  which  would  do  honor  to  any 
city,  —  those  who,  from  their  quiet,  unobtrusive  labors  in  this 
department  of  duty,  for  a  long  series  of  years,  should  be  held 
by  their  fellow-citizens  in  lasting 'remembrance. 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  School  Committee, 
January  16,  1855,  Rev.  Dr.  LOTHROP,  in  behalf  of  the 
Committee,  to  which  was  referred  the  communication 
of  the  Secretary  of  the  late  Primary  School  Committee, 
reported  that  they  had  discharged  the  duty  assigned 
them,  and  added : 

When  first  instituted  in  1818,  the  Primary  School  Commit 
tee  consisted  of  thirty-six  members;  twenty-five  Primary 
Schools  were  established,  and  about  one  thousand  children 
were  in  attendance.  At  the  time  that  it  became  extinct,  the 
Committee  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-six  members, 
and  bequeathed  to  the  care  of  our  Committee  one  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  schools,  at  which  over  twelve  thousand 
pupils  attended.  In  view  of  these  facts,  however  satisfactory 
may  be  the  various  reasons  that  prevailed  with  the  public 
mind  to  produce  the  change  which  has  been  adopted,  all  will 
agree  that  the  plan  which  has  now  been  abandoned  had  many 
excellences ;  that  under  it  this  department  of  public  instruc 
tion  has  been  constantly  enlarged  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
increasing  population  of  the  city;  and  that  the  gentlemen 
who,  from  time  to  time,  have  served  on  this  Committee,  many 
of  them  for  many  years,  have  generally  been  men  of  integ 
rity,  honor,  and  public  spirit,  who  have  aimed  at  a  strict  and 
faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  their  trust,  and  who  are 


272  REVIEW. 

entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  the  community  for  the  services 
they  have  rendered. 

The  following  resolution  accompanied  the  report : 

Resolved,  That  in  receiving  the  records  and  papers  of  the 
late  Primary  School  Committee,  this  Board,  in  behalf  of  the 
citizens  of  Boston,  by  whom  they  have  been  entrusted  with 
the  guardianship  of  the  great  interests  of  public  instruction, 
desire  to  place  upon  their  records  an  expression  of  the  just 
appreciation  which  they  entertain  of  the  value  and  fidelity  of 
the  services  of  those  gentlemen  who,  from  time  to  time,  have 
been  members  of  said  Primary  School  Committee,  and  zeal 
ously  discharged  its  duties. 

The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  resolution  was 
adopted. 

These  universal  expressions  of  respect  and  confi 
dence,  in  regard  to  the  members,  and  the  unreserved 
testimony  in  favor  of  the  manner  in  which  the  affairs 
of  the  Primary  Schools  had  been  conducted,  prove 
conclusively  that  no  injury,  but  great  benefits,  had  re 
sulted  from  this  "  anomalous  "  organization. 

With  this  disposition  of  the  general  question,  we 
will  now  proceed  to  examine  the  grounds  on  which 
the  "  system "  was  condemned. 

First.  It  was  "anomalous  to  the  genius  of  our 
institutions." 

The  u  genius  of  our  institutions "  may  be  defined  as 
"  the  voice  of  the  people,  legally  expressed ; "  and  the 
establishment  of  the  Primary  School  Committee,  by 
the  people  assembled  in  town  meeting  at  Faneuil  Hall, 
was  an  act  preeminently  in  conformity  with  this  aphor 
ism.  Established  by  competent  authority,  its  public 


REVIEW.  273 

position  was  always  recognized  by  the  City  Govern 
ment,  and  remained  unchallenged  from  1822  till  1850. 

Second.  They  had  "  the  expenditure  of  a  very  great 
amount  of  the  public  moneys,"  without  being  "  chosen 
by  the  people,  or  by  the  City  Government." 

The  Primary  Board  have  never  possessed  nor  exer 
cised  the  power  to  expend  the  "  public  moneys."  The 
salaries  of  their  teachers  were  fixed  by  vote  of  the  City 
Council,  and  paid  by  the  City  Treasurer ;  the  school- 
houses  were  planned  and  built,  —  school-rooms  were 
hired,  —  the  furniture  and  fuel  were  supplied,  by  the 
sole  order  of  the  City  Council,  —  the  incidental  repairs 
and  alterations  were  made  by  the  Committee  and 
Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings,  entirely  independ 
ent  of  the  Primary  Board  or  its  Committees.  With  the 
exception  of  about  one  hundred  dollars,  for  the  deliv 
ery  of  notices  and  the  expenses  incurred  by  the  Secre 
tary,  and  two  dollars  to  each  school  for  rewards,  neither 
the  Board  nor  its  members  ever  had  the  control  or 
expenditure  of  a  dollar  of  the  "  public  moneys." 

Third.  They  assumed  powers  "not  vested  in  them 
by  law,"  and  illegally  increased  their  number  of  mem 
bers.  A  complete  refutation  of  this  is  contained  in  the 
Memorial  of  the  Board  and  the  proceedings  of  the  City 
Government  in  1823.* 

Fourth.  a  As  a  deliberative  or  executive  body,  it  had 
become  too  numerous  for  the  purposes  entrusted  to  its 


care." 


As  this  appears  to  be  merely  an  opinion,  without  any 
reasons  or  proof  being  given  to  sustain  it,  it  is  only 


*  See  page  72-76. 
85 


274  REVIEW. 

necessary  to  state,  that  we  are  not  aware  of  any  diffi 
culty  being  felt  or  experienced  from  the  number  of 
members.  On  the  contrary,  the  large  number  of  our 
citizens  who,  by  this  means,  were  brought  into  imme 
diate  contact  with  the  schools,  became  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  our  system  of  public  education ;  and 
by  participating  in  the  labor,  care  and  responsibility 
of  its  management,  felt  a  higher  degree  of  interest 
in  its  success,  disseminated  a  knowledge  of  its  details 
and  operation,  and  by  this  means  strengthened  and 
elevated  our  Public  Schools  in  the  estimation  of  the 
people  at  large  ;  and  to  this  cause  may  be  attributed 
much  of  that  preeminence  which  has  characterized 
the  Boston  Public  Schools.  The  reasons  for  the  large 
number  .of  members,  as  presented  in  the  Memorial  of 
the  Board  to  the  City  Council,  in  1823,  were  as  valid 
in  1850  as  at  that  time. 

Fifth  "  The  objectionable  mode  in  which  the  mem 
bers  were  elected  and-  vacancies  filled,  in  the  manner 
of  close  corporations." 

The  City  Solicitor,  in  reply  to  questions  by  the  Gram 
mar  Board,  in  1849,  declared  that  the  Grammar  School 
Committee,  "  being  originally  authorized  by  the  town, 
might  properly  appoint  the  Primary  School  Committee 
to  take  particular  charge  of  the  Primary  Schools,  as  a 
department  or  sub-division  of  the  general  system  of 
Public  Schools." 

This  was  the  practice  during  the  entire  existence  of 
the  Primary  Board  ;  and  as  a  sub-committee,  they  were 
subject  to  appointment  every  year,  under  the  following 
rules  of  the  Grammar  Board  : 


REVIEW.  275 

In  January  or  February,  annually,  this  Board  shall  nomi 
nate  and  appoint  a  suitable  number  of  gentlemen,  whose  duty 
shall  be  to  provide  instruction  for  children  between  four  and 
eight  years  of  age,  by  means  of  the  Primary  Schools,  and  shall 
authorize  the  Committee  of  these  schools  to  organize  their 
body  and  regulate  their  proceedings  as  they  may  deem  most 
convenient,  and  to  remove  such  members  thereof,  as,  in  their 
opinion,  do  not  attend  to  their  duties,  and  to  fill  all  vacancies 
which  may  occur  in  the  same,  and  they  shall  report  to  this 
Board,  at  its  quarterly  meeting  in  May,  as  follows : 

1st.  The  plan  of  their  organization,  including  the  names  of 
the  officers  and  Committees,  the  rules  and  regulations  which 
govern  their  Board,  and  the  classification  adopted  in  the 
schools. 

2d.  The  number  of  schools  under  their  charge,  their  loca 
tion,  together  with  the  number  and  names  of  the  teachers. 

3d.  The  number  of  scholars,  male  and  female,  and  the 
studies  required. 

4th.  A  schedule  of  the  Primary  School-rooms  owned  by 
the  city,  the  number  of  the  same  hired  by  the  city,  the  num 
ber  vacant  of  the  same,  owned  by  the  city,  the  number  new 
of  the  same,  which  will  be  required  during  the  year,  and  the 
districts  in  which  they  must  be  provided. 

And  this  Board  will  respectfully  receive  such  other  com 
munications  as  from  time  to  time  they  may  please  to  make  on 
the  subject  of  those  schools. 

With  these  facts  before  us,  it  is  difficult  to  discover 
the  analogy  between  the  Primary  Board  and  "  a  close 
corporation." 

To  judge  whether  the  mode  of  filling  the  vacancies, 
ad  interim,  by  the  Primary  Board,  was  justly  liable  to 
censure,  it  is  proper  to  state  the  process.  Whenever  a 
new  school  was  established,  or  a  vacancy  occurred,  by 


276  REVIEW. 

resignation  or  otherwise,  the  Committee  of  the  district 
in  which  the  school  was  located,  proceeded  to  select  a 
gentleman  whose  known  interest  in  the  schools  and 
social  position  qualified  him  for  the  office.  This  was 
done  by  ballot,  and  in  all  cases  preference  was  given  to 
those  whose  business  or  residence  was  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  school.  This  was  of  much  importance,  as  all  mat 
ters  pertaining  to  the  teacher  or  school  were  under  the 
special  care  of  the  Local  Committee.  It  was  also  a 
great  convenience  to  the  citizens,  inasmuch  as  all  the 
children  were  admitted  and  transferred  by  certificate 
of  the  Committee,  which  they  were  obliged  to  obtain 
from  him.  After  the  ballot  was  taken,  and  the  party 
selected  had  signified  his  willingness  to  serve,  his  name, 
with  the  number  of  the  school  and  district  with  which 
he  was  to  be  connected,  was  issued  in  a  printed  notice 
to  all  the  members,  and  his  admission  was  subjected  to 
ballot  at  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  whole  Board. 
A  person,  therefore,  was  subject  to  two  elections,  by  dif 
ferent  bodies,  before  he  could  be  even  nominated  for 
appointment  by  the  Grammar  Board,  as  a  member  of 
the  Primary  School  Committee.  A  "  mode "  of  pro 
ceeding  far  more  critical  than  is  usually  attempted  in 
the  selection  of  candidates  for  the  Grammar  School 
Committee.  The  power  to  remove  any  member  for 
neglect  of  duty,  vested  in  the  Executive  Committee, 
had  a  tendency  to  maintain  the  standard  of  supervision 
to  a  healthy  point.  This  and  an  entire  absence  of  all 
political  bias  in  the  selection  of  members,  were  ele 
ments  of  great  value  in  a  system  of  universal  educa 
tion,  but  which  could  only  be  attained  by  some  other 
"mode"  than  that  of  popular  nominations  at  the  ward 
rooms. 


REVIEW.  277 

The  Sixth  and  last  objection  we  have  to  notice,  is, 
"  that  its  continuance  perpetuated  a  want  of  unity  in 
our  school  system." 

The  union  of  the  Primary  and  Grammar  Schools, 
under  one  Committee,  was  but  one  step  towards  the 
object  in  view.  Other  elementary  changes  were  con 
templated,  some  of  which  had  been  already  introduced. 
Among  these  projected  improvements,  was  the  congre 
gating  of  large  numbers  of  children  and  teachers  under 
one  roof,  subject  to  the  control  of  a  single  head,  render 
ing  the  duties  of  the  master  those  of  a  subordinate  super 
intendent,  rather  than  an  instructor.  The  reduction  in 
the  number  of  the  Committee,  and  consequent  increase 
of  care  and  responsibility  on  each  of  the  members, 
rendered  the  appointment  of  a  Superintendent  neces 
sary  and  imperative,  to  aid  in  the  discharge  of  the 
onerous  duties  incumbent  on  the  Committee.  The 
natural  tendency  of  all  this  was  to  concentrate  the 
vast  interests  of  our  schools  in  the  hands  of  a  few; 
and  through  the  agency  of  the  Superintendent,  to 
bring  the  Boston  schools  more  directly  under  the 
influence  of  the  Massachusetts  Board  of  Education, — 
a  body  created  by  the  State  Legislature  as  a  great 
central  power,  to  give  impulse  and  direction  to  the 
method  of  conducting  the  education  of  the  young  in 
all  the  Public  Schools  throughout  the  Commonwealth. 

To  render  the  Boston  schools .  subordinate  to  this 
system  of  centralization,  was  the  real  development 
of  the  idea  of  "unity  in  our  school  system." 

That  the  Primary  Board,  in  principle  and  practice, 
was  in  direct  antagonism  to  this  system,  is  true.  Its 


278  REVIEW. 

origin  and  organization  were  essentially  popular  and 
democratic.  Its  object  was  to  extend  the  blessings 
of  education  to  the  children  of  poverty  and  ignorance, 
and  by  this  means  to  qualify  the  children  of  the  poor 
emigrant  for  intelligent  citizenship.  Opposed  by  the 
constituted  authorities,  the  object  was  approved  and 
the  schools  established,  by  the  people.  And  it  was 
the  peculiar  province  of  this  organization  to  diffuse 
the  control  and  administration  of  our  schools  among 
as  large  a  number  of  the  citizens  as  practicable. 

Whether  the  change,  by  which  a  new,  untried  and 
experimental  system  has  been  substituted,  will  prove 
to  have  been  judicious,  or  be  so  beneficial  as  was 
confidently  predicted  by  its  friends,  time  only  can 
determine.  Through  that  inexorable  ordeal  the  Pri 
mary  School  system  has  passed,  with  honor  and  suc 
cess.  That  equal,  if  not  greater  success,  may  attend 
our  schools,  under  their  present  organization,  or  in 
whatever  manner  they  may  be  organized  and  gov 
erned,  and  that  they  may  continue  to  be  a  source 
of  pride  and  hope,  is  our  own,  and  will  always  be 
the  desire  of  every  good  citizen  and  friend  of  pop 
ular  education. 

In  closing  our  labors  by  this  review  of  the  opinions 
and  action  of  those  gentlemen,  through  whose  in 
fluence  and  exertions  the  Primary  School  Committee 
was  abolished,  we  desire  to  disclaim  attributing  to 
them  or  their  coadjutors,  any  other  than  high  and 
honorable  motives  in  their  opposition ;  and  we  believe 
that  the  correction  of  the  historical  errors  in  their  rep 
resentations,  upon  which  it  is  evident  much  of  their 


REVIEW.  279 

opposition  has  been  based,  will  be  received  by  them 
in  a  kindly  spirit;  and  as  an  act  of  justice  to  a 
body,  that,  however  "anomalous"  and  peculiar  it 
might  be  in  its  constitution,  was,  nevertheless,  a  Bos 
ton  institution  of  acknowledged  excellence,  efficiency, 
and  success,  and  one  whose  entire  record  is  unsullied 
by  a  single  act  that  we  would  wish  to  blot. 


APPENDIX. 


FINAL    AND     SEVENTH 

JRepori  rf  %  Stjpol  of  $ntoisfrji,  $0.  t 

FOB    THE    NORTHERN    DISTRICT. 

BOSTON,    NOVEMBER,    1819. 


THE  Managers  of  the  School  of  Industry  again  have  the  pleasure  of  pre 
senting  their  acknowledgments  to  the  friends  and  benefactors  of  this  Institu 
tion  for  the  encouragement  and  support  they  have  thus  far  liberally  bestowed. 
And  with  gratitude  for  favors  conferred,  they  would  offer  the  general  senti 
ment  of  the  Ladies  to  dissolve  the  Association,  for  the  present ;  convinced  as 
they  are,  necessity  does  not  immediately  urge  the  duty,  and  fearful  of  taxing 
private  individuals  unnecessarily  —  as  the  number  of  children  is  very  small, 
compared  with  the  many  who  have  attended  the  past  years ;  the  smaller  class 
having  been  sent  to  the  Primary  Schools,  lately  provided  by  the  town,  which 
prevents  in  a  degree,  our  longer  continuance  to  our  own  satisfaction.  Some 
few  of  the  oldest  have  been  placed  in  good  families,  where  they  will  be  made 
useful  members  of  society,  and  blessings  in  the  world. 

Seven  years  have  now  elapsed  since  the  commencement  of  this  institution, 
and  the  purest  motives  of  our  hearts  have  been  exercised  in  its  progress  ;  and 
the  success  that  has  generally  attended  our  efforts,  has  been  a  sufficient 
stimulus  to  the  performance  of  one  of  the  most  interesting  duties  of  life, 
and  it  is  with  sensations  of  regret  we  this  day  dissolve  a  connection  that  has 
ever  contributed  to  our  happiness,  formed  as  it  was,  at  a  period  when  most 
needed,  and  when  every  day  presented  a  scene  of  ignorance  and  vice,  mel 
ancholy  to  behold ;  children  almost  constantly  in  the  streets,  exciting  the  pity 
of  strangers,  and  sympathy  of  friends,  exposed  as  they  were  to  the  present 
evil  world,  without  employment,  and  perhaps  no  virtuous  example,  to  guide 
their  steps  aright,  acquiring  habits  of  indolence  and  wickedness,  not  easily 
effaced.  Here  they  have  been  early  taught  the  first  lessons  of  knowledge, 


APPENDIX.  281 

the  most  simple  branches  of  learning,  and  their  diligence  and  industry  have 
been  frequently  commendable ;  and  we  trust  some  good  impressions  have 
been  made,  some  seeds  of  virtue  will  be  permitted  to  thrive ;  as  their  open 
ing  minds  expand,  they  will  naturally  appreciate  the  advantages  given  them, 
and  be  ready  to  bless  the  friends  who  have  thus  kindly  prepared  them  for 
virtue  and  goodness. 

Much  praise  is  due  to  the  young  ladies  for  the  interest  they  have  displayed 
in  the  welfare  of  the  children ;  their  attention  to  the  reading,  and  constant 
attendance,  entitle  them  to  our  warmest  thanks. 

Since  the  formation  of  this  society,  several  others  have  been  established  on 
a  similar  plan  with  our  own,  and  this,  we  are  happy  to  think,  was  the  first  of 
the  kind  instituted  in  Boston. 

After  examining  the  Treasurer's  accounts,  it  is  hoped  the  benefactors  will 
be  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  statement  given,  and  appropriation  of  the 
funds.  The  medals  presented  as  rewards  of  merit  to  the  children,  it  is  pro 
posed,  should  be  distributed  for  the  same  purpose,  to  the  Primary  Schools  in 
the  three  neighboring  wards. 

May  the  time  spent  here  cheer  the  recollection  as  hours  well  spent,  and 
each  member  be  rewarded  with  an  approving  conscience,  and  the  smiles  of 
Heaven. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Managers  at  the  school  room,  on  the  2d  day  of  Nov., 
1819  —  the  above  report,  together  with  the  abstract  of  the  Treasurer's 
accounts,  was  directed  to  be  read,  and  copies  distributed. 

Voted,  That  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  the  29th  November,  and  in  the 
mean  time,  Joseph  Austin,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  Robert  Fennelly  be  requested  to 
examine  and  settle  the  Treasurer's  accounts. 

The  following  abstract  was  presented  by  the  Treasurer.  Expenses  of 
School  of  Industry  from  the  first  year  to  the  present,  viz. : 

Paid  for  stock, $284  57 

Wood, 191  07 

Clothes, 39  95 

Shoes,. 251  56 

Hose, 7  33 

Mrs.  Wheelwright, 364  00 

Miss  Trench,  as  assistant, 39  00 

Miss  Hill,          do 46  50 

Col.  Bager's  rent, 640  00 

Miscellaneous,  viz.,  books,  furniture,  &c.,      ...  49  14 

Repairs, 7  54 


282  APPENDIX. 

Writing  School, 7  55 

Advertising, 3  00 

Counterfeit  bills,  .  5  00 

Si, 936  21 
By  amount  of  subscription,  and  donations  from  Nov. 

1812,  to  Nov.,  1819, 1,42092 

Amount  of  sales  and  work, 587  34 

$2,008  26 
Balance, $72  05 


Three  hundred  children  have  been  admitted  into  the  school. 
Boston,  Nov.  2Gth,  1819.  —  We  have  at  the  request  of  the  Managers  of  the 
School  of  Industry,  examined  the  accounts  of  the  Treasurer,  and  find  them 
correct,  leaving  a  balance  of  72  dollars  5  cents. 
Signed, 

JOSEPH  AUSTIN, 
ROBERT  FENELLY. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Managers  of  the  School  of  Industry,  Nov.  29th,  1819, 
it  was  agreed  that  the  balance  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  be  appropriated 
towards  the  schooling  of  poor  children,  (not  otherwise  provided  for.)  That 
Mrs.  Wheelwright  be  authorized  to  take  such  children  as  any  of  the  subscrib 
ers  may  approve,  and  present  her  bill  quarterly  for  payment,  until  the  whole 
remaining  money  shall  be  expended,  after  deducting  ten  dollars  now  pre 
sented  her,  and  the  necessary  expenses  for  printing,  &c. 

The  managers  of  the  School  of  Industry  having  been  in  the  practice  of 
distinguishing  the  most  attentive  scholars,  by  the  wearing  of  a  medal  on  each 
monthly  day  of  examination,  and  finding  that  the  hopes  of  such  a  distinction 
excited  a  spirit  of  industry  among  the  children,  and  as  that  institution  is  now 
dissolved,  the  Committee  of  the  Primary  Schools,  in  Ward  Nos.  1  and  2,  are 
requested  to  accept  the  said  medals  to  be  used  for  the  same  purpose  in  the 
schools  which  they  superintend. 

SARAH  AUSTIN,  Secretary. 


[FORM  OF  CF.RTIFICATE.] 
TO      MRS.      WHEELWRIGHT. 

Admit  into  your  School  for 

one  quarter  from  the  day  of  1820, 

and  write  on  the  back  of  this  that  she  has  attended  one 
quarter,  and  I  will  give  an  order  on  Mrs.  Webster  the  Treas 
urer,  for  the  payment  of  your  bill,  (at  ten  cents  a  week,)  for 
one  dollar  and  thirty  cents. 


COPY   OF  THE  FIRST 

RULES    AND    REGULATIONS 

ADOPTED    BY    THE 

PRIMARY     SCHOOL     COMMITTEE. 
BOSTON,    JULY,    1820. 


AT  a  meeting  of  th6  Primary  School  Committee,  held  July  27th,  1820,  the 
following  Rules  and  Regulations  were  adopted  for  the  government  of  this 
Board,  and  the  several  schools  under  their  jurisdiction. 

Attest,  P.  MACKINTOSH,  JR.,  Sec'y. 


RULES  AND  REGULATIONS. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  officers  of  this  Board  shall  consist  of  a  Chairman,  Secretary,  Treas 
urer,  and  a  Standing  Committee. 

SECTION  I. 

OF    THE    WHOLE    BOARD. 

A  representation  of  seven  wards  shall  be  a  quorum  at  any  meeting  for  the 
transaction  of  business. 

The  quarterly  meetings  of  this  Board  shall  be  holden  on  the  third  Tues 
days  in  August,  November,  February  and  May, 

All  nominations  to  fill  vacancies  at  this  Board,  shall  be  made  at  a  meeting 
previous  to  that  when  the  election  shall  be  made. 

The  elections  of  the  permanent  officers  and  the  Standing  Committee,  and 
also  the  filling  of  all  vacancies  of  members,  shall  be  made  by  written  ballots. 

In  order  to  secure  the  due  attendance  of  members,  the  Secretary,  in 
issuing  notifications  for  the  meetings,  shall  note  in  writing  on  the  notification 
of  any  member  absent  from  the  last  meeting  the  fact  of  such  absence,  and 
that  his  attendance  is  desired,  unless  he  intend  to  resign  his  seat. 

SECTION  II. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Board  shall  preside  at  all  meetings,  and  be  respected 
and  obeyed  accordingly. 

SECTION  III. 

DUTIES    OF    THE    SECRETARY. 

The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  faithful  record  of  all  the  doings  of  the  Board 
he  shall  notify  the  members  of  all  meetings ;  he  shall  note  their  absence 


284  APPENDIX. 

from  the  last  meeting,  agreeably  to  the  last  clause  of  the  first  section  ;  and 
perform  all  other  duties  which  by  custom  appertain  to  his  office. 

SECTION  IV. 

DUTIES    OF    THE    TREASURER. 

The  treasurer  shall  keep  a  fair  and  accurate  account  of  the  moneyed  con 
cerns  of  the  Board.  He  is  authorized  to  receive  from  the  Town  Treasurer 
all  moneys  granted  for  the  support  of  the  Primary  Schools ;  and  pay  the 
instructors  of  the  schools,  quarterly,  their  bills  being  first  approved  by  the 
Committee  of  the  ward  or  district  to  which  they  belong.  His  accounts  shall 
be  audited,  or  inspected,  whenever  the  Board  may  appoint  a  Committee  for 
that  purpose.  At  the  close  of  the  year  he  shall  make  a  transcript  or  an 
abstract  of  his  accounts  as  audited,  to  be  laid  before  the  Board. 

SECTION  V. 

OF    THE    STANDING    COMMITTEE. 

The  Standing  Committee  shall  consist  of  seven  members,  to  be  appointed 
by  this  Board,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  meet  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  each 
month,  to  consider  of  every  subject  relating  to  the  Primary  Schools,  and  the 
same  to  visit  semi-annually,  and  report  at  every  quarterly  meeting,  recom 
mending  any  improvements  necessary  to  obtain  the  general  objects  of  this 
Board. 

SECTION  VI. 

WARD    OR    DISTRICT    COMMITTEES. 

The  Ward  Committees  are  constituted  of  the  three  gentlemen  appointed 
by  the  School  Committee  from  each  ward.  When  two  or  more  wards  are 
joined,  they  shall  be  termed  a  district,  and  the  Committee  a  District 
Committee. 

Each  school  shall  be  opened  and  directed  by  the  Committee  of  the  ward 
or  district  in  which  it  is  placed,  consulting,  if  it  stand  near  another  ward,  the 
Committee  of  that  ward.  To  the  same  shall  belong  the  duty  of  locating  the 
schools,  of  engaging  competent  mistresses,  and  the  same  to  remove,  on  proof 
of  any  sufficient  cause,  and  of  controlling  all  matters  relating  to  the  estab 
lishment.  They  shall  visit,  examine,  and  inquire  into  the  state  of  the  school 
or  schools  under  their  charge,  at  least  once  a  month,  and  oftener,  if  conve 
nient.  They  shall  meet  at  least  ten  days  previous  to  the  quarterly  meetings, 
to  prepare,  from  the  returns  of  the  several  schoolmistresses,  A  REPORT  to  be 
made  forthwith  to  the  Standing  Committee,  together  with  said  returns,  with 
such  observations  as  they  may  deem  proper  to  make. 

Previous  to  the  removal  of  a  child  to  the  Grammar  School,  such  child  shall 
pass  an  examination  to  the  satisfaction  of  one  or  more  of  the  respective  Ward 
or  District  Committees,  who,  to  each  child  appearing  sufficiently  qualified  for 
entrance  at  the  upper  school,  shall  grant  a  certificate  in  the  following  form : 


285 


CERTIFICATE  OF  RECOMMENDATION. 


The  bearer  A.  B.,  child  of  C.  D.,  having  been  instructed  at  the  Primary 
School,  kept  by  E.  F.,  and  being  years  of  age,  is  thought  qualified 

ibr  admission  at  the  English  Grammar  School  under  your  direction,  to  which 
he  is  recommended  by 

G.  H.,  Committee  of  Ward  No. 
To  I.  K.,  Master  of  the  English  Grammar  School. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  several  Ward  or  District  Committees  to  keep  a 
record  of  their  proceedings  relative  to  the  schools  under  their  management. 

When  notified  by  the  Standing  Committee  of  an  intended  semi-annual 
visitation,  each  Ward  or  District  Committee  shall  detach  one  or  more,  to 
introduce  the  Standing  Committee  to  their  schools,  and  assist  at  the 
examination. 

SECTION  VII. 

OF  THE  INSTRUCTORS  AND  THE  SCHOOLS. 

The  schoolmistresses  are  to  be  appointed,  and  the  schools  located,  by  the 
Committees  of  the  respective  wards  or  districts,  who  have  the  management  of 
them  under  the  direction  of  the  whole  Board. 

Each  schoolmistress  shall  stand  precisely  on  equal  terms  in  point  of  com 
pensation  ;  and  the  compensation  allowed  them  is  in  full  for  tuition,  school 
rent,  fuel,  and  all  other  expenses. 

All  the  schools  shall  be  as  nearly  equal  in  point  of  numbers  as  may  be  — 
it  being  desirable  that  none  have  more  than  fifty,  nor  less  than  forty,  as  con 
stant  attendants. 

No  pupil  shall  be  received  into  the  Primary  Schools  without  a  ticket  of 
admittance  from  one  of  the  Ward  or  District  Committees. 

The  instructors  employed  by  this  Board  are  expressly  prohibited  from 
receiving  pay  for  any  private  pupils  instructed  by  them  at  their  schools. 

The  pupils  in  each  of  the  schools  shall  be  arranged  into  four  classes,  viz.  : 

Those  in  the  Testament  shall  be  of  the  1st  class. 

Those  in  easy  reading,  of  the  2d  class. 

Those  who  spell  two  or  more  syllables,  of  the  3d  class. 

Those  learning  their  monosyllables,  of  the  4th  class. 

The  books  shall  be  the  same  in  every  school  for  each  pupil,  (hereafter 
admitted,  viz.  :) 

The  1st  class  shall  use  the  Testament. 

The  2d  class  shall  use  Bingham's  Child's  Companion. 

The  3d  and  4th  classes  shall  use  Kelly's  Child's  Instructor. 

Rewards  of  merit  bestowed  on  the  scholars  shall  consist  of  reward  tickets, 
small  moral  books,  or  class  medals,  as  the  Committee  of  the  ward  or  district 
may  determine.  If  medals  are  allowed,  they  are  to  be  worn  by  the  best 
scholars,  for  the  time  being,  under  the  direction  of  the  schoolmistress.  To 


286  APPENDIX. 


defray  the  expense  of  these  rewards,  one  dollar  for  each  school  shall  annually 
be  appropriated. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  mistress,  besides  the  usual  business  of  teaching, 
to  keep  an  account  of  the  absence  or  negligence  of  any  children,  and  make 
report  to  the  Ward  Committee,  whose  duty  thereupon  shall  be  to  visit  the 
parents,  and  endeavor  to  secure  regular  attention.  She  shall  also  be  required 
to  pay  particular  regard  to  the  neatness  and  cleanliness  of  the  children. 

On  the  monthly  visitations  of  the  Ward  or  District  Committees,  and  the 
semi-annual  visitation  of  the  Standing  Committee,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
instructors,  respectively,  to  exhibit  the  progress  and  improvements  made  by 
the  children  under  their  care,  in  conformity  to  the  desires  of  the  visiting 
Committee. 

The  schoolmistresses  shall  be  excused  from  keeping  school  on  the  following 
days,  viz. : 

Every  Thursday  and  Saturday  afternoons  throughout  the  year ;  the  after 
noons  preceding  Fasts  and  Thanksgivings  ;  the  first  Monday  in  June  ;  Elec 
tion  Week ;  the  4th  day  of  July  ;  Commencement  Week,  and  Christmas 
Day ;  but  no  other  day,  except  by  a  special  vote  of  the  Ward  or  District 
Committee. 

No  scholar  shall  be  removed  to  the  Grammar  Schools  by  the  schoolmis 
tresses,  without  first  being  examined  and  furnished  with  a  certificate  of  recom 
mendation,  if  he  or  she  deserve  it,  by  one  of  the  Ward  or  District  Committee. 

Returns  from  each  of  the  schools  shall  be  made  quarterly,  on  the  last  days 
of  July,  October,  January,  and  April,  by  the  instructors,  to  the  District  or 
Ward  Committees — stating  the  ages,  the  number  of  male  and  female  pupils- 
the  progress  of  each,  and  whatever  else  may  be  designated  by  the  blanks 
furnished  by  the  Board. 

In  order  early  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  our  youth,  the  importance  of 
religious  duties,  and  their  entire  dependence  on  their  Maker,  the  instructors 
are  desired  to  open  their  schools  in  the  morning  with  a  short  prayer,  and 
close  with  the  same  service  in  the  afternoon. 

Whenever,  by  sickness  or  otherwise,  an  instructor  is  compelled  to  vacate 
her  station  for  a  season,  it  shall  be  her  duty  to  inform  the  Ward  or  District 
Committee,  who  will  either  appoint  a  mistress  pro  tern.,  or  approve  one 
selected  by  the  mistress. 


APPENDIX. 


287 


PRIMARY    SCHOOL    COMMITTEE. 


FOR  THE  YEAR  ENDING  JUNE,  1821. 


Ward  No.  I— Three  Schools. 
Rev.  Henry  Ware, 
George  Darracott, 
Isaac  Harris. 

No.  2 — Four  Schools. 
Samuel  Ilichborn,  Jr., 
Lewis  Leland, 
Thomas  Fracker. 

No.  3.— Four  Schools. 
Thomas  Wells, 
Dr.  Horace  Bean, 
Nathan  Webb. 

No.  4—  Two  Schools. 
James  Davis, 
Samuel  Howe, 
Reuben  Richards,  Jr. 

No.  5— Two  Schools. 
Moses  Grant, 
Dr.  George  C.  Shattuck, 
Samuel  T.  Armstrong. 

Nos.  6  and  7 — Five  Schools. 
Rev.  Paul  Dean, 
Peter  Mackintosh,  Jr., 
Andrew  Green. 


No.  7. 

William  Thurston, 
Samuel  Covcrly, 
Rev.  Sereno  E.  Dwight. 

Nos.  8  and  9 — Five  Schools. 
Dr.  Samuel  Clarke, 
Francis  Welch, 
Isaac  Mansfield. 

No.  9. 

James  Savage, 
William  Brown, 
Pliny  Cutler. 

Nos.  10  and  II— Five  Schools. 
Thomas  L.  Winthrop, 
Samuel  Norwood, 
Lewis  Tappan. 

No.  11. 

Elisha  Ticknor, 
Thomas  Jackson, 
Samuel  Dorr. 

No.  12— Five  Schools. 
William  Ball, 
Thomas  B.  Wait, 
William  Jackson. 


Thomas  L.  Winthrop,  Esq.,  Chairman. 
Peter  Mackintosh,  Jr.,  Secretary. 
William  Brown,  Esq.,  Treasurer. 


STANDING 

Thomas  B.  Wait, 

James  Savage, 

Peter  Mackintosh,  Jr., 


COMMITTEE. 

Moses  Grant, 
Isaac  Harris, 
Thomas  Wells, 


Lewis   Tappan. 


-88  APPENDIX. 

AT  a  meeting  of  the  Primary  School  Committee,  held  February  20th, 
1821,  the  following  System  of  Instruction  was  adopted,  to  be  pursued  in  all 
the  Primary  Schools. 

Attest,  P.  MACKINTOSH,  JR.,  Secretary. 


COURSE     AND     MODE     OF     INSTRUCTION     TO     BE     PURSUED     IN     THE 
PRIMARY     SCHOOLS. 

The  fourth  or  youngest  class  shall  stand  up  with  due  ceremony,  at  as  great 
a  distance  from  the  instructor  as  possible,  and  read,  with  a  distinct  and  audi 
ble  tone  of  voice,  in  words  of  one  syllable.  No  one  of  this  class  shall  be 
advanced  to  the  third  or  higher  class,  who  cannot  read  deliberately  and  cor 
rectly  in  words  of  one  and  two  syllables. 

No  one  of  the  third  class  shall  be  advanced  to  the  second  class  who  cannot 
spell  with  ease  and  propriety  words  of  three,  four  and  five  syllables,  and  read 
all  the  reading  lessons  in  Kelly's  spelling  book. 

No  one  of  the  second  class  shall  be  advanced  to  the  first  class  who  has  not 
learned  perfectly  by  heart,  and  recited,  as  far  as  practicable,  all  the  reading 
lessons  in  Kelly's  spelling  book;  the  Commandments  and  Lord's  Prayer;  all 
the  stops  and  marks,  and  their  uses  in  reading ;  and  in  Bingham's  spelling 
book,  the  use  of  the  common  abbreviations,  such  as  A.  M.,  D.  D.,  L.L.  D.,  &c. ; 
the  use  of  numbers,  and  letters  used  for  numbers,  in  reading ;  the  catalogue 
of  words  of  similar  sound,  but  different  in  spelling  and  signification ;  the 
catalogue  of  vulgarisms,  such  as  chimney,  not  chimbly,  vinegar,  not  win- 
egar,  &c. 

No  one  of  the  first  class  shall  be  recommended  by  the  Examining  Com 
mittee  to  be  received  into  the  English  Grammar  schools,  unless  he  or  she  can 
spell  correctly,  read  fluently  in  the  New  Testament,  and  has  learned  the 
several  branches  taught  in  the  second  class ;  and  also  the  use  and  nature  of 
the  pauses  ;  and  is  of  good  behavior.  And  each  of  the  scholars,  before  being 
recommended,  shall  be  able  to  read  deliberately  and  audibly,  so  as  to  be 
heard  in  any  part  of  the  Grammar  Schools. 

Thus  a  foundation  will  be  laid  in  the  Primary  Schools  for  farther  and 
greater  improvements  in  the  English  Grammar  Schools  than  has  heretofore 
been  known ;  and  of  course  the  scholars  from  the  Primary  Schools  will  be 
qualified  to  enter  the  Grammar  Schools  on  an  advanced  standing. 

The  Committee  particularly  recommend,  that  the  instructors  shall  employ 
the  girls  occasionally,  (especially  those  of  the  first  class.)  in  sewing  and  knit 
ting,  so  far  as  the  same  shall  not  interfere  with  their  progress  in  learning. 

N.  B. — The  books  to  be  used  in  the  schools  are  the  same  as  prescribed  in 
the  Rules  and  Regulations,  viz. : 

The  4th  and  3d  classes,  Kelly's  Child's  Instructor. 


APPENDIX.  289 

The  2d  class,  Child's  Instructor  continued,  and  Bingham's  Child's  Companion^ 

The  1st  class,  Instructor  and  Companion  continued,  and  the  New  Testament. 

No  other  kind  of  books  are  allowed  to  be  introduced,  or  used  as  substitutes 
for  any  of  the  above-cited,  unless  by  order  of  the  Board 

At  a  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Primary  School  Committee,  August  15? 
1820,  the  following  Rule  was  adopted: 

No  child  shall  be  admitted  into  a  school,  unless  provided  with  the  neces 
sary  books. 

Also,  at  an  adjourned  quarterly  meeting,  November  20,  1820,  the  following 
Rules  were  adopted : 

Teachers  will  note  the  absence  or  tardiness  of  their  scholars  daily,  and 
insert  the  result  in  their  quarterly  returns,  opposite  the  names  of  the  scholars, 
and  under  the  head  of  "  Remarks," 

Teachers  are  not  allowed  to  permit  visitors  to  tarry  in  their  schools,  nor  to 
be  themselves  employed  in  needle  or  other  work  during  school  hours. 

The  instructors  are  requested,  in  making  their  quarterly  returns,  to  insert 
the  Christian  names  of  the  scholars,  and  to  arrange  them  by  classes,  placing 
the  girls  first  in  order. 

Attest, 

PETER  MACKINTOSH,  JR.,  Secretary. 

37 


CATALOGUE 


OF    THE 


GOVERNMENT  AND  MEMBERS 

OF   THE 

PRIMARY  SCHOOL  COMMITTEE 

IN    CHRONOLOGICAL    ORDER    OF    THEIR    SERVICE, 


FROM  ITS 


INSTITUTION,  JUNE  22,  1818,  TO  ITS  DISCONTINUANCE 
IN  JANUARY,  1855. 


CATALOGUE. 


CHAIRMEN    OF    THE    BOARD. 

Thomas  L.  Winthrop,  1818 — 1821 ;  resigned  June,  1822. 

James  Savage,  June,  1822,  1823  ;  resigned  June,  1824. 

Moses  Grant,  June,  1824 — 1833. 

Lewis  G.  Pray,  January,  1834,  1835. 

George  W.  Otis,  Jr.,  183G— 1839. 

Richard  W.  Bayley,  1840 — 1843. 

Josiah  F.  Bumstead,  1844 — 1846. 

Eben  Jones,  1847—1849. 

Francis  Brown,  1850,  1851. 

Charles  Edward  Cook,  1852,  1853. 

Alvan  Simonds,  1854. 

SECRETARIES  OF  THE  BOARD. 

James  Savage,  1818,  1819;  resigned  June,  1820. 

Peter  Mackintosh,  Jr.,  June,  1820 — 22. 

Charles  Ewer,  June,  1823. 

William  T.  Andrews,  June,  1824—1828. 

Frederic  T.  Gray,  January,  1829 — 1832. 

Edward  G.  Davis,  1833,  1834. 

Gustavus  Horton,  1835  ;  resigned  May,  1836. 

Joseph  Curtis,  May,  1836 — 1841. 

Alvan  Simonds,  1842—1851  ;  resigned  March,  1852. 

Charles  Demond,  March,  1852—1855. 

CHAIRMEN  OF   THE  STANDING  COMMITTEE. 

Elisha  Ticknor,  1819,  1820;  died  July,  1821. 

James  Savage,  July,  1821—1823;  resigned  June,  1824. 

Thomas  Wells,  August,  1824 — 1829. 

Francis  Parkman,  1830—1833. 

Charles  Walker,  1834 


294  APPENDIX. 

George  W.  Otis,  1835. 

Samuel  Tenney,  1836,  1837. 

Richard  W.  Bayley,  1838,  1839. 

Josiah  F.  Bumstead,  1840—1843. 

Frederic  A.  Sumner,  1844. 

Joseph  W.  Ingraham,  1845—1847  ;  died  August,  1848 

Joseph  M.  Wightman,  September,  1848—1855. 

SECRETARIES  OF  THE  STANDING  COMMITTEE. 

Peter  Mackintosh,  Jr.,  1819. 
Moses  Grant,  1820—1829. 
Lewis  G.  Pray,  1830—1832. 
Charles  Walker,  1833. 
George  W.  Otis,  Jr.,  1834. 
Frederic  A.  Sumner,  1835—1843. 
Alvan  Simonds,  1844—1851. 
Charles  Demond,  1852—1855. 

TREASURER  OF  THE  BOARD. 

William  Brown,  1819—1823  ;  office  abolished,  1824. 


PRIMARY    SCHOOL    COMMITTEE. 


The  figures  indicate  the  date  of  appointment,  and  the  number  of  years  of  service. 


Austin,  Benjamin    1818,  1819 

Armstrong,  Samuel  T 1820 

Adams,  Zabdiel  B 1821—1825 

Adan,  John  R 1824 

Andrews,  William  T 1824—1828 

Austin,  Richard 1833 — 1838 

Appleton,  John 1833 

Andrews,  Henry  R 1836 — 1855 

Adams,  Thomas 1838,  1839 

Allen,  James  M 1842,  1843 

Abrahams,  Benjamin 1843 

Atkins,  John 1844 — 1847 

Allen,  Charles  J.  F 1844—1855 

Abbott,  Samuel  L 1846 — 1853 

Adams,  Isaac 1846 — 1849 

Atkins,  Ebenezer 1847 — 1855 

Atwood,  Charles  II 1847—1855 

Alvord,  John  W 1847—1853 

Allen,  Samuel  C 1848 

Allen,  Joseph  H 1850 

Allen,  James  B 1850 

Allen,  Nathaniel  G 1851,  1852 

Appleton,  William,  Jr.  .  .   1852,  1853 

Allen,  Frederic  D 1852 — 1855 

Alley,  James  B 1853,  1854 

Adams,  Colman  S 1853,  1854 

Burditt,  James  W 1818 

Baldwin,  Rev.  Thomas  .  .  .  1818,  1819 

Bell,  Shubael 1818 

Brown,  William 1818—1826 

Bellows,  John 1818,  1819 

Bean,  Horace 1819,  1820 

Bordman,  Thomas  S 1819 

Baker,  John   1821 

Bradlee,  Samuel 1821 — 1823 

Blanchard,  Joshua  P.  .  .  .  1824 — 1831 

Bemis,  Charles 1824 

Bent,  Adam   1824 — 1831 

Baker,  John 1824,  1825 


Barry,  William,  Jr 1825 

Bowdoin,  James 1825,  1826 

Betton,  Ninian  C 1826—1828 

Bumstead,  Josiah  F 1826 — 1855 

Bliss,  Alexander 1826 

Blaney,  William 1827,  1828 

Barrett,  N.  A 1827—1831 

Bigelow,  John  P 1827—1837 

Bradshaw,  Andrew 1827,  1828 

Butts,  John  R 1828 

Barnes,  Seth  II 1829—1832 

Blaisdell,  Rev.  Silas 1830 

Bulfinch,  George  S 1830—1832 

Blagden,  Rev.  George  W 1831 

Brown,  Francis 1831—1855 

Brown,  William  C 1832 

Brown,  John  S 1833 

Bay  ley,  Richard  W 1834—1848 

Barnard,  Rev.  C.  F 1834 — 1836 

Bourne,  I.  W 1835—1841 

Bullard,  Francis 1835—1847 

Brigham,  William    1836 

Brown,  William 1836,  1837,  1850 

Brown,  Benjamin 1836 

Battles,  Jason  D 1837 — 1839 

Bayley,  Thomas  J 1837,  1838 

Bowditch,  Henry  1 1837—1850 

Barry,  Charles  C 1837 — 1850 

Bedlington,  Timothy.  . .  .  1838 — 1841 

Bemis,  George 1840 — 1844 

Burroughs,  Henry 1842 — 1849 

Brooks,  William  B 1842 — 1848 

Buck,  Ephraim,  Jr.      . .  .  1842—1848 

Bell,  Theodore  H 1842—1854 

Boardman,  Charles 1844 — 1846 

Brooks,  Rev.  Charles  .  . .  1844—1851 

Bond,  George  W 1844,  1845 

Breed,  Horace  A 1844,  1845 

Beal,  Thacher 1844—1855 

Burnham,  Choate 1844—1846 


APPENDIX. 


Blake,  John  II 1845—1848 

Blake,  E.  W 1846—1855 

Bond,  Charles  R 1846 

Blanchard,  William  E.  .  .  1846—1853 

Bigelow,  John 1847—1854 

Bowker,  Albert 1847—1854 

Butters,  William  A 1847—1850 

Brevoort,  Henry 1849 — 1855 

Banvard,  Rev.  Joseph 1849 

Brainard,  Edward  II 1850 

Baker,  Judah 1850 

Bean,  Aaron  II 1850 

Bowdlear,  Samuel  G 1852 — 1855 

Bartlett,  Ezra 1853,  1854 

Beecher,  Rev.  Edward. .  .  1853,  1854 

Boynton,  E.,  Jr 1853,  1854 

Barrows,  Horace  G 1854 

Buckingham,  Charles  E 1854 

Bosworth,  Rev.  G.  W 1854 

Coverly,  Samuel 1818 — 1820 

Chapman,  Henry 1818,  1819 

Child,  David  W 1818 

Chandler,  Gardner  L.  ...  1818,  1819 

Clarke,  Samuel 1819,  1820 

Cotton,  John 1821 

Chandler,  Abiel 1823—1829 

Capen,  Rev.  L.  1823— 1831;  1842, 1843 

Cartwright,  C.  W 1824 

Curtis,  Jos.  182G — 1829  ;  1834—1841 

Child,  David  Lee 1826 — 1828 

Clark,  Joseph 1828 — 1832 

Coit,  Daniel  T 1829—1855 

Croswell,  Rev.  William.  .  1829—1831 

Clark,  James 1829 — 1832 

Cobb,  Elijah 1830 — 1842 

Choate,  Charles 1831—1834 

Center,  John 1832 — 1835 

Coburn,  Caleb 1832—1835 

Cragin,  Lorenzo  S 1832—1855 

Codman,  Edward 1833 — 1835 

Cutler,  Samuel  L 1834 

Chessman,  Samuel 1835 — 1838 

Chapin,  A.  B 1836 

Clark,  Henry  G 1837 — 1855 

Clark,  Moses 1837 

Clapp,  Henry,  Jr 1838 — 1840 

Crehore,  Daniel  S 1839 — 1841 

Cotting,  Benjamin  E 1840,  1841 

Coolidge,  William  D.  . .  .  1843 — 1847 
Cushman,  Freeman  L.  ...  1842,  1843 
Calrow,  William  II.  .  .  .  1844 — 1855 

Cumings,  Bradley  N 1844,  1845 

Crosby,  Loammi" 1844 — 1855 

Crosby,  Frederic 1844—1849 


Clarke,  Rev.  Dorus 1844—1847 

Child,  Asaph  B 1844—1851 

Carter,  Oliver 1844—1855 

Coale,  William  E 1845—1847 

Crane,  Horatio  N 1846 

Crowell,  Rev.  William  .  .  1846—1848 

Cotton,  Nath.  D 1847,  1 848 

Cruft,  Rev.  S.  B 1847—1855 

Cook,  Rev.  Theo.  D.  . .  .  1848—1851 

Cole,  Morrill 1848 — 1852 

Clarke,  Rev.  James  F 1849 

Chase,  Thomas  F 1849 

Cheney,  J.  H 1849—1852 

Cook,  Charles  E 1850 — 1852 

Cummings,  J.  A 1850 

dishing,  Andrew 1851—1855 

Chesbrountfi,  E.  S 1851—1853 

Clark,  Leister  M 1851 — 1855 

Cutter,  A.  E 1851 

Clement,  J.  S 1852—1855 

Curtis,  George  A 1853,  1854 

Cudworth,  Rev.  W.  II 1853,  1854 

Clark,  Rev.  R.  W 1853,  1854 

Chase,  Henry  S 1853,  1854 

Clinch,  Rev.  J.  II 1853,  1854 

Cragin,  Lorenzo  S.,  Jr 1854 

Caklicott,  Rev.  T.  F 1854 

Clark,  Calvin  W 1854 

Crowell,  Seth  K 1854 

Dean,  Rev.  Paul 1818 — 1821 

Dorr,  John 1818 

Dall,  William 1818—1820 

Davis,  James 1819,  1820 

Darracott,  George   1 820 

Dwight,  Rev.  S.  E 1820,  1821 

Dow,  Samuel 1820 

Domett,  George 1823— 1K26 

Davis,  Samuel 1823—1831 

Dupee,  Israel  T 1825—1828 

Dorr,  William  B 1825,  1826 

Dane,  John 1826 

Dwight,  Rev.  Louis 1826—1833 

Davis,  Edward  G 1827—1835 

Drake,  Jeremy 1827—1834 

Dyer,  Henry 1830— 183G 

Durgin,  Clement 1833,  1834 

Dow,  James  B 1834—1855 

Dunham,  J.,  Jr 1836,  1837 

Dall,  Joseph 1837—1839 

Dix,  John  II 1839 

Daniel,  Josiah  N 1839,  1840 

Dana,  Francis. 1839,  1840 

Daniel,  Chester 1840 

Dupee,  Horace,  Jr 1841— 1«55 


APPENDIX. 


297 


Dale,  William  J 1841,  1842 

Dingley,  John  T 1841—1855 

Ditson,  Oliver 1841—1855 

*Dall,  William 1842—1855 

Ditson,  Thomas 1842,  1843 

Day,  Albert 1843 

Dodge,  Charles  II 1844—1846 

Davenport,  Henry 1844—1846 

Dimon,  Oliver 1846—1850 

Davenport,  W.  W 1846 

Demond,  Thomas  D 1847—1853 

Dyke,  William 1849—1855 

Dutton,  Ormond 1850—1855 

Demond,  Charles 1850—1855 

Dennett,  William  H 1850—1855 

Dalton,  Henry  L 1852—1855 

Damon,  Samuel  G 1852 — 1855 

Dearing,  T.  H 1852 

Duncklee,  B.  W 1853,  1854 

Dutton,  George  D 1853,  1854 

Damon,  Calvin 1853,  1854 

Deblois,  George  L 1853,  1854 

Danforth,  John  C 1853,  1854 

Davis,  Thomas 1854 

Denison,  J.  N 1854 

Elliot,  John , 1821—1823 

Ewer,  Charles 1821—1823 

Edson,  Rev.  Theo 1823 

Eustis,  William  T 1825 

Emerson,  Geo.  B 1826—1834 

Ellis,  Samuel   1827,  1828 

Elliot,  George  A 1832—1835 

Esterbrook,  James 1835 

Emmons,  J.  L.  1835—1837  ;  1840, 1841 

Everett,  Otis 1835—1837 

Eustis,  William 1839 

Eayrs,  J.  H 1839 

Ellis,  Rowland   1840—1848 

Eaton,  William 1841—1855 

Eddy,  Frederic  A 1842,  1843 

Emmons,  Charles  G 1842—1846 

Ellis,  Jonathan 1849 

Eaton,  Charles  F 1850—1855 

Evans,  Jonas 1850 

Eastman,  Edmund  T..  . .  1852—1855 

Elliot,  Charles  W 1854 

Ellis,  Rev.  Rufus 1854 

Ellis,  Calvin   1854 

Fennelly,  Robert 1818,  1819 

Fracher,  Thomas 1819 — 1823 

Fowle,  William  B.  . '. 1821 

Fowle,  Henry,  Jr 1821 — 1829 

Farrington,  Thomas 1821 


French,  Benjamin 1821 — 1823 

Fairbanks,  Gerry 1821—1829 

Fenno,  John,  Jr 1822—1829 

Farrie,  John,  Jr 1822 — 1825 

Fairbanks,  Stephen 1824—1826 

Fairchild,  Rev.  J.  II.  . .  .  1827—1836 

Fisher,  John  D 1831,  1832 

Freeman,  William 1832—1835 

French,  Charles 1833 

Foster,  William  E 1834—1836 

Flint,  John 1834—1842 

Field,  Elisha 1836—1850 

Fowle,  Samuel 1836 

Ford,  John  V 1840—1842 

Fuller,  Henry  W 1842 

Fowle,  Joshua  B..  .1842,  1843  ;  1850 

Fowle,  Henry  D 1844 — 1855 

Faxon,  Isaiah 1847—1855 

Fowle,  James 1847—1855 

Frothingham,  Geo.  W 1851,  1852 

Fogg,  J.  S.  H 1853,  1854 

Fox,  James  A 1853,  1854 

Farwell,  Lyman 1853 

Forbes,  Gustavus 1854 

Gore,  Samuel 1818 

Grant,  Moses 1818—1833 

Green,  Andrew 1820 

Guild,  Benjamin 1821—1825 

Greele,  Samuel 1821—1823 

Green,  Ellis  B 1823,  1824 

Gould,  Benjamin  A 1823—1828 

Gay,  Frederic  A 1824,  1825 

Gray,  John  C 1824 

Gray,  Rev.  F.  T..  1825—1832;  1836 

Gulliver,  John 1826—1839 

Greene,  Benjamin  II. .  . .  1827—1855 

Gore,  Christopher 1828 — 1841 

Gould,  Frederic 1829—1831 

Gray,  Thomas,  Jr 1829—1834 

Gay,  Martin 1830—1838 

Geyer,  Andrew 1833—1843 

Gould,  Augustus  A 1833—1840 

Gavett,  William  R 1838—1840 

Greely,  Philip,  Jr 1840 

Gove,  Moses  J 1848—1852 

Guild,  William  II 1849 

Goddard,  Thomas  A.  ...  1849—1855 

Gill,  Caleb 1849—1855 

Goddard,  Elias  W 1849—1853 

Gregerson,  James  B 1850 

Greene,  Moses  C 1851—1855 

Gaffield,  Thomas 1851—1855 

Giles,  Alfred  E 1851—1853 

Glover,  E.  V 1851,  1852 


*  Son  of  the  member  in  1818. 


APPENDIX. 


Gardner,  T.  0 1853 

Gordon,  James  M 1854 

Gay,  George  II 1854 

Goddard,  Daniel  T 1854 

Hichborn,  Samuel 1818—1820 

House,  Samuel 1818—1820 

Harris,  Isaac 1820 

Hood,  Charles 1821—1824 

Henchman,  Daniel 1821—1848 

Haven,  J.  A 1823 

Hale,  Enoch,  Jr 1823—1825 

Halleck,  Gerard 1824,  1825 

Hobart,  Enoch 1824—1842 

Howe,  Samuel 1825—1835 

Head,  Francis  C 1825 

Hatch,  Henry 1825—1838 

Hunting  Bela 1825—1831 

Hall,  Whitney 182G— 1828 

Hewes,  John  * 1826 

Holland,  Samuel  M 182G 

Hunting,  Thomas 1827 — 1837 

Hutchinson,  Thomas  L 1828 

Hartshorn,  Eliphalet  P..  1828—1851 

Hayward,  James  II 1829 

Hunt,  Freeman   .  .  .  1831,  1833,  1834 

Horton,  Gustavus 1832—1839 

Hall,  S.  W.  1833—1838;  1846—1848 

Holbrook,  Josiah 1833 

Haynes,  Guy  C 1836—1847 

Hosmer,  Zelotes 1836 

Howe,  Cranston 1836 — 1851 

Howe,  William 1838—1850 

Howes,  Willis 1838 — 1841 

Haynes,  Edward,  Jr 1839,  1840 

Holman,  Oliver 1840,  1841 

Hooper,  Henry  N 1842,  1843 

Howard,  Edward 1842,  1843 

Hawkes,  Thomas  B.  ...  1842—1855 

Hobart,  E.  Aug 1843—1849 

Homer,   Henry 1842—1854 

Humphrey,  Francis  J.  .  .  1842—1851 

Harris,  William 1844,  1845 

Horton,  David  W 1844—1846 

Harris,  James  W 1844—1846 

Howes,   Osborn 1846—1850 

Hubbard,  George 1847—1853 

Hutchinson,  J.  B 1847—1850 

Hobbs,  Alvah 1847—1853 

Hovey,  James  G 1848,  1849 

Horton,  David  R 1848 

Hackett,  Hiram 1849 

Heyward,  Charles  T 1850 

Howard,  William  P 1849 

Hunt,  W.  L.  B 1850 


Hale,  Theodore  P 1850 

Hart,  Nathaniel  0 1851 — 1855 

Homer,  S.  J.  M 1851—1855 

Hammond,  Thomas   ....  1851 — 1855 

Hamblen,  David 1851 — 1855 

Horton,  Henry 1851 

I  lowland,  Edwin 1852—1855 

Hall,  Daniel 1852—1855 

Hinckley,  John  W 1853,  1854 

Harlow,  Ivory 1853,  1854 

Hapgood,  Warren 1853,  1854 

Hickey,  Thomas  II 1853,  1854 

Herrick,  J.  E 1853,  1854 

Hodges,  KM 1853,  1854 

Homans,  Charles  D 1853,  1854 

Ingraham,  Joseph  W.  .  .  1826—1848 
Irwin,  Rev.  John 1853,  1854 

Jackson,  William 1820 

Jackson,  Thomas 1820 

Jones,  William 1824—1828 

.Tones,  Ezekiel 1825 

Jackson,  Francis 1826—1835 

James,  John  W 1827 — 1831 

Jackson,  J.  B.  S 1834,  1835 

Jackson,  Edmund 1835 — 1851 

Jenkins,  Solon   1835 — 1855 

Jones,  Eben    1836 — 1849 

.Jenkins,  William  C 1836—1842 

Josselyn,  Lewis 1837 

Jarvis,  William  P 1838—1850 

Jenney,  Stephen 1848 — 1855 

Jewell",  Harvey 1851—1854 

Knapp,  William   1827—1828 

Kent,  Jacob  II 1831 

Kimball,  David  .    .1835;  1843 — 1858 

Kittredge,  Josiah 1837 

Kimbali,  Joshua  B 1841—1843 

Kemp,  Nathaniel  P 1844—1850 

Kingman,  George     1851 — 1855 

Kneeland,  Samuel,  Jr 1851 

Kimball,  Peter 1851,  1852 

Kimball,  Otis 1851—1853 

Leland,  Lewis 1818—1820 

Lincoln,  Charles 1823—1826 

Lewis,  Joseph 1823 — 1832 

Lane,  George 1823—1826 

Loring,  Charles  G 1823 

Lowell,  John,  Jr 1825—18*8 

Loring,  John  J 1828 

Lane,  Jonas  II 1830,  1831 

Lowell,  Charles  R. 1832—1834 


APPENDIX. 


299 


Loring,  Ellis  G 1832—1834 

Lincoln,  Beza 1832 — 1838 

Lothrop,  John  P 1835 

Lodge,  Giles  II 1837—1840 

Leach,  E.  W 1839—1841 

Leavitt,  Joseph  M 1840,  1841 

Leavitt,  Benson 1841 — 1843 

Learnard,  William  II.  .  .  1842—1851 

Lincoln,  Noah,  Jr 1842,  1843 

Lincoln,  Ezra,  Jr 1843—1845 

Lovis,  Ambrose 1842 — 1847 

\Little,  Eben  II 1844—1855 

Learnard,  Win.  H.,  Jr..  .  1849—1855 

Lincoln,  Albert  L 1850 — 1855 

Livermore,  L.  J 1850 

Lovejoy,  William  B 1851 

Lovett,  8.  Ingersol 1851 

Lincoln,  Henry  W 1851 — 1855 

Loud,  Andrew  J 1851 — 1855 

Lothrop,  Joshua  B 1851 

Little,  Albert 1851 

Leonard,  Marcus  B 1853,  1854 

Lovell,  Rev.  Stephen 1853,  1854 

May,  Samuel 1818—1820 

Marshall,  Josiah 1818 

Mackintosh,  Peter,  Jr.  .  .  1819—1823 

Mansfield,  Isaac 1820—1833 

Milton,  Ephraim 1824 — 1826 

Merrill,  James  C 1824 

McKean,  Joseph  W.  . .  .  1827—1831 

Motte,  Rev.  M.  1 1830,  1831 

Monroe,  Edmund 1830 

Mosely,  Flavel 1831,  1832 

McCleary,  John  B 1833—1848 

Marvin,  Theopli.  II 1833—1855 

Mann,  Nehemiah  P 1833—1855 

Mellen,  John 1834,  1835 

Merrill,  Nathan 1835,  1836 

Mead,  John 1835 

Merrill,  James   1836 

Morse,  Samuel  F 1836—1842 

Morris,  L.  II 1837,  1838 

Moriarty,  Joseph 1838—1846 

Manning,  Francis  C 1838 — 1840 

Montgomery,  Hugh 1838—1847 

McBurney,  Rev.  Sam'l.  .  1839—1847 

Messenger,  Eben  T 1840—1848 

Minot,  William,  Jr 1843 

Merrill,  Joseph  W 1844 — 1847 

Makepeace,  William 1846 

Mead,  Charles 1846—1855 

Morgan,  David 1847 — 1853 

McCleary,  Sam'l  F.,  Jr.  .  1847—1851 
Maynard,  Azor 1847 — 1855 


Mudge,  Alfred 1847 — 1852 

Merrill,  George 1847—1849 

Melzar,  Parker  A. 1847—1853 

Meston,  John  J 1848 — 1855 

Mears,  Granville 1849,  1850 

McLellan,  George  W 1850 

Minot,  Albert  T 1850 

Moore,  Edward  B 1851—1854 

Merriam,  R.  L 1851—1853 

Martin,  Pearl 1852 

Minot,  Francis 1853,  1854 

Marsh,  Lucius  B 1854 

Manson,  Thomas  L 1854 

Norwood,  Samuel 1820 

Noyes,  Daniel 1824—1826 

Norris,  Rufus  G 1838,  1839 

Newcomb,  Harvey 1838,  1839 

Norcross,  Loring 1839—1855 

Newhall,  Daniel  B 1847—1852 

Newcomb,  Thomas   C..  . .  1853,  1854 

Noyes,  George  N 1853,  1854 

Nichols,  George  B 1853 

Nutter,  Charles  C 1854 

Osgood,  Isaac  P 1824,  1825 

Otis,  Geo.  W.,  Jr 1827—1842 

Ordway,  Aaron 1837 — 1844 

Oliver,  Samuel  P 1840—1855 

Odin,  John,  Jr 1841—1853 

Ober,  John  P 1842—1855 

Prince,  James 1818—1820 

Phillips,  Edward 1819 

Page,  Thaddeus   1821—1824 

Prescott,  William  II 1821—1824 

Page,  Edward 1823 

Pray,  Lewis  G 1823—1842 

Pillsbury,   Samuel 1825 

Palfrey,  William 1826—1836 

Parkman,  Rev.  Francis.  1826—1834 

Power,  Thomas 1827-1831 

Pickering,  Edward 1830 

Prescott, 'Ed ward  G 1831,  1832 

Palmer,  Ezra,  Jr 1832,  1833 

Perkins,  Benjamin    1833,  1834 

Perry,  Marshall  S 1833,  1834 

Phelps,  Abel 1834,  1835 

Parker,  Aurelius  D 1834—1855 

Palmer,  Julius  A 1835,  1836 

Phillips,  Wendell ,  1836—1838 

Phillips,  George  W 1837 

Preston,  John  P 1839—1841 

Parkman,  William 1839—1841 

Pratt,  E.  F 1840,  1841 


300 


\rm 


Prince,  Frederic  0 1*41—  1848 

Parker,  William  T. 1 84  2— 1846 

Park  John  C. 1843—1847 

Phelps,  Amos  A 1*44,  1845 

Parmenter,  George  \V..  .  1S44— 1854 

Putnam,  .T   Pholn* 1844—1846 

PAtton,  William  W 1844,  1845 

Palmer,  K.  IX  G 1846—1854 

Phelps,  Charles  A 1846—184? 

Parcher,  Sowall  F 1847—1850 

Perking  Samuel  S. 1847,  1848 

Perkins,  James 1848—1852 

Paige,  David 1848 

ParXs  Luther,  Jr 1849—1851 

Putnam.  John 1849 

Procter,  Israel  P 1849 

Park  man,  Francis ...  1849 

Prescott,  Jeremiah    1849 

Presron,  Jonathan 1850 

Phi  inner,  A  very.  Jr.  ...  1855—1855 

Phipps.  J.  M.    .* 1852—1855 

Prnzrey,  S.  II 1853,  1854 

Porter,"  Edward  F 1853,  1854 

Pinkerton,  J.  M 1853 

Piper.  James  S 1853,  1854 

Pond,  Joseph  A 1854 

Rtch.  Benjamin 1818 

Rit-hanls,  Reuben 1820—1827 

Robinson,  Simon  W 1825 

Rood,  Sampson 182«i— 1829 

Rood,   Hodges 1820 — 1829 

Riwwoll,  William 1 826 

Kobbins,  l>r.  Chandler  . .  1827 — 1833 

Rogers,  George 1827 — 1846 

Robinson,  Horatio 1828 — 1831 

Russell,  Aaron 1829— 1832 

Rind,  Rev.   Asa 18SI— 1833 

Reynolds,  Rrewster 1835—1837 

Richardson,  Joseph 1836,  1857 

U.igors,  Henri-  B. 18S6— 1838 

R.^srieanx,  Thomas 1837— IN."-.". 

Richardson,  A.  J 18S7— 1841 

Richardson.  Benj.  P, 1887—1854 

RoUbin*,  Joseph 1842— 18.SS 

R,ch,  Ohadiah 1844—1851 

Uiyraond,  Freeborn  F.  .  1846—1852 
lUndall,  R*-v.  Geo.  M,  ,  1847—1852 

U».  h%rdson,  John  D 1847—1855 

Robinson,  George  W 1848 

Roed,  Ixlward 1850 

Ri«-«s  Alexander  H 1850,  1851 

Rnnkin,  Ira  P. 1851,  1852 

Bobbins,  Charles 1851,  1852 

Rand,  George  C. 1S51— 1853 


Richardson,  Jackson. . . .  1851—1855 

Read,  William 1853,  1854 

Richardson,  Chtrie* 1853,  1854 

Snelling,  NatVl  G.  1818,  .1819;  1824 

Savage,  James   1818 — 1824 

Shuriletr.  Ucnjamin  ...     1818—1819 

Shattnck,  Gi\>rge  C. 1819,  1820 

Sharp,  Rev.  Daniel 1818,  1819 

Snow,  Caleb  H 1821—1823 

Sp*oner.  William  J 1821—1830 

Stevens,  Benjamin 1823 

Snmnor,  Bradford 1 824 

Sroddard,  Charles 1825—1833 

Streeter,  Rev.  SeK  1826-28  : 1850-55 

Snelling,  («>t>rge  H 1826—1834 

S\m]xscn,  Gix^rpre  A 1827 — 1835 

Sci7dder,  Charles   1827—1829 

Sj-H^ner.  John  P 1829—1831 

Storer.  IX  Humphrey  .,  18SO— 1832 

Stevens  John    .  . . .  J 1 831 

Stimpson,  John 18S2,  1833 

Slvbbins,  John  B 1832—1842 

Savage,  George 1832 — 1834 

Sumner,  Frederic  A.  ...  1833 — 1850 

Smith.  Benjamin 1834 

Simpkins,   Samuel  G.  ..  1834 — 1847 

Simondft,  Alvan 1834—1855 

Sweet,  Aaron 1SS7 — 1841 

Srevens,  Kbenezer    1837 

SewalU  Sanwel  E. 1838 

Saiford,  Henry 1838—1846 

Sareents  Rev,  J.  T 1838,  1839 

Suvlman,  Francis  1) 1838—1847 

Say  ward,  James  H 1838,  1839 

Snow,  Asa 1839 

Sutherland,  George,  Jr. 1839 

Sftemrns,  Klijah 1839 — 1855 


Sargent,  Howard 


1841 

1840,  1841 
1840— 18.>5 
1841—1844 
1842—1855 
1842,  1843 


Skinner,  Rev.  Otis  A, 
Stoddard,  I^ewi? 

-    n.  F:-t-  i,  :•;.-  11.  .  .   - 

iStMMWS  Charles 1842—1850 

Smith,  Thomas  P 1842,  1843 

Story,  Charh-s  W 1843,  1844 

Sylvester,  Adam 1843 

Sttrtcvant.  Georg*    1844 — 1£5S 

Spenee,  John,  Jr 1844 — 1851 

Sanborn,  Greenlemf  C.,  1844—1852 

Swfe,  Riehani,  Jr 1846—1848 

Smith.  Rev.  Amos 1846,  1847 

SMtk  J,  V.  C. 1847—1855 


AITIl.NDIX. 


801 


Sanford,  Philo 1847;  1853,  1854 

Smith,  Joseph 1847—1853 

Stevens,  Scriah 1847—1852 

Sampson,  George  II.  ...  1847 — 1840 

Schmidt,  Frederic 1847,  184H 

Sawyer,  Frederic  W.. .  .  1848—1853 

Stevens,  John  A 1848 

Stevens,  Benjamin  F 1850 

Stone,  Sawyer  S 1850 

Stevens,  N.  C 1850—1855 

Snow,  Asa  B 1850—1852 

Sanford,  Miles 1850 

Sherman,  Charles  J.  F.  .  1851 — 1855 

Sweetser,  Frederic 1851 — 185.'} 

Southard,  Zibeon 1851 — 1805 

Scudder,  Henry  A.  ...  1851—1855 
Sykes,  Rev.  James  II.  . .  1852—1855 
Stockwell,  Stephen  N...  .185.3,  1854 

Smith,  William  E 1853,  1854 

Stack  pole,  S.  A 1853,  1854 

Stephenson,  George  A 1853 

Shaw,  Benjamin   S 1854 

Sleeper,  Jacob     1854 

Smith,  Franklin  W 1854 


Tick  nor,  Elisha 

Thurston,  William 

Tappan,  Lewis 

Tick  nor,  George 

Tick  nor,  Benjamin 

Taylor,  William 

Tuckerman,  Rev.  Joseph 

Thompson,  John 

Tenney,  Samuel 

Twombly,  A.  H...  1829; 

Tilden,  Calvin   , 

Thompson,  Thomas  II.. . 

Tick  nor,  William  D 

Teed,  E.  L 

Tolman,  James 

Thompson,  Newell  A.  .  . 

Tucker,  Stephen 

Turner,  Alfred  T 

Thacher,  William  S 

Taylor,  Gustavus 

Tucker,  Levi 

Townsend,  William  E. .  . 

Tolman,  Samuel 

Turner,  Charles  A 

Thur*ton,  Horace 

Thayer,  David 

Thorndike,  William  II.  . 

Tyler,  Charles  C 

Tilton,  Stephen,  Jr.  ... 
Thaxter,  McBean  


1818—1822 
1818—1822 
1820—1825 
1821—1824 
.  1824,  1825 
1824—1838 
1827—1828 
1827—1834 
1829—1838 
1833—1835 

1831 

1832—1838 
1836—1850 

1838 

1839—1847 
1842—1847 
1844—1850 
1847—1852 
1847—1853 

1848 

1849—1851 
1848—1855 
1848—1855 
1849—1855 

1849 

1851—1855  I 
.  1851,  1852 
.  1853,  1854  I 
.  1853,  1854  j 
.  1853, 1854  | 


Upham,  William  B 1842—1849 

Vo»e,  Thomas 1833—1880 

Vinton,  George    1830,  1837 

Ware,  Rev.  Henry 1818—1820 

Webster,  Redford 1M1H 

\\  in.  hell,  Rev.  J.  M 1818,  1819 

\\inthrop,  Thomas  L.   ..  1818— 1H22 

Wells,  Benjamin  T 1818 

Webb,  Nathan    1818 — 1820 

West,  Benjamin 1818,  1819 

Waif,  Thomas  B 1818— 1H2'J 

Wdls,  Thomas 1820 — 1830 

Wisner,  Rev.  B.  B 1821— 182H 

Williams,  Moses 1821  — 1825 

Ware,  John 1824,  1825 

Willis,  Horatio  M 1824 

Wash  burn,  Calvin 182-1 — 1829 

Ward,  Richard 1824—1826 

Wiley,  Thomas 1825—1832 

Watts,  Francis  0 1825 — 1841 

Wi-r-rlesworth,  Edward  .  1826—1829 

Walker,  Charles 1828—1835 

Whiton,  James  M 1832 — 1842 

Williams,  Albert 1832 — 1834 

Wright,  Window 1832 

Wright,  Edmund,  Jr 1832 

Walley,  Samuel  H.,  Jr.  .  1832—1839 

Wait,  William  S 1832,  1833 

Wells,  Rev.  E.  M.  P 1834,  1835 

Whifinjf,  Calvin 1835 

Wash  burn,  J.  M 1836,  1837 

Wyman,  Abraham  G 1836—1855 

Wheeler,  A.  B 1836—1843 

Weston,  E.,  Jr.  1836-1839;  1842,  '43 

Weeks,  William  A 1837 — 1839 

Wliipple,  James  K 1837 — 1841 

Wales,  Samuel,  Jr.  1837;  1847—1849 

Wheeler,  Samuel 1837—1842 

Whitney,  Warren  J 1839—1844 

Wait,  Richard  G 1840,  1841 

Wiley,  Henry  G 1840—1843 

Wilder,   Volney 1840—1847 

WakenVN,  Eoocli  II 1842,  1843 

Whir.-.,  John,  Jr 1842—1847 

Washburn,  Henry  S.  ..  1842—1847 

Watson,  Abram  A 1842—1855 

Wri'/ht,  Albert  J 1842—1855 

Woact,  Rev.  John 1844 — 1851 

Wipgin,  Charles  E 1844—1855 

W< ,.,•],  Alexander 1846—1851 

Wiswell,  D.  W 1846—1855 

Wi'/litman,  Joseph  M.  .  .  1846 — 1855 
Wilder,  Thomai 1846—1855 


302 


APPENDIX. 


Williams,  Moses  B 1846 

White,  Joseph  F 1847— 

Whiting,  James 1847 

Wright,  Thomas  S 1848—1850 

Wellington,  Hiram 1850—1855 

Winkley,  Rev.  S.  II 1850—1852 

Whipple,  Samuel  K 1850 

Willett,  William 1850 


Warren,  John  A 1851 

Welteh,  Samuel 1853,  1854 

Wadsworth,  Samuel 1853,  1854 

Williams,  George  F 1853,  1854 

Williams,  Henry  W 1853,  1854 

Winkley,  Swain 1854 

Young,  Joshua 1851,  1852 


The  following  names  of  Members  were  inadvertently  omitted  in  their 
proper  place: 


Binney,  Matthew 1854 

Briggs,  George  W    ....  1852—1854 

Condon,  Samuel    1854 

Crane,  Phineas  M 1854 

Delano,  William  II 1847—1855 


Dawcs,  Thomas 1854 

Metcalf,  Nathan,  Jr.  ...  1837—1855 


1854 


Thayer,  Lorenzo  R 

Woodman,  Charles  T 1854 


APPENDIX. 


303 


PRIMARY     SCHOOLS 


ANNUAL   EXPENDITURES. 


FINANCIAL  YEARS. 

Salaries  and 
Incidental 
Expenses. 

For 

School-houses.* 

No.  of 

Schools. 

No.  of 
Pupils. 

Total 
Expenditures. 

June  1,1818,  to  June, 
1819         ... 

$3,750  00 

18 

815 

$3  750  00 

1819  1820 

8  000  00 

20 

1,118 

8,000  00 

1820  1821 

8  000  00 

34 

1  666 

8,000  00 

1821  1822 

8  375  00 

35 

1  896 

8,375  00 

1892  1823 

9  028  15 

37 

1  909 

9,028  15 

1823  1824 

10  510  00 

42 

2  142 

10,510  00 

1824  1825 

11  710  00 

44 

2  463 

11,710  00 

1895  1826 

12  581  56 

48 

2  686 

12,581  56 

1826  1827 

13  207  78 

53 

2  938 

13  207  78 

1897  1828 

14  045  91 

56 

3  236 

14  045  91 

1898  1829 

14  286  71 

57 

3  354 

14  286  71 

1899  1830 

14  373  46 

59 

3  583 

14  373  46 

1830—1831  

14,933  46 

60 

3,700 

14,933  46 

1831  —  1832  „  

16,491  88 

62 

3,819 

16,491  88 

1832—1833  

16,859  16 

63 

3,927 

16,859  16 

1833-  1834  

17,364  70 

66 

3,959 

17,364  70 

1834  —  1835  

17,833  11 

12,380  00 

69 

4,479 

30,213  11 

1835  —  1836  

19,403  32 

9,646  99 

72 

4,338 

29,050  31 

1836  —  1837  

23,976  23 

4,831  95 

76 

4,369 

28,818  18 

1837  —  1838  

26,787  00 

12,623  32 

80 

5,092 

38,710  32 

1838  —  1839  

27,824  10 

11,872  53 

87 

5,103 

39,696  63 

1839  —  1840  ..c  

29,905  35 

15,609  35 

91 

5,439 

45,514  70 

1840  —  1841  

31,388  00 

2,452  62 

93 

5,846 

33,840  62 

1841  —  1842  

32,924  55 

12,457  25 

97 

6,657 

45,381  80 

1842  —  1843  

36,200  83 

10,210  18 

106 

7,206 

46,411  01 

1843  —  1844  

38,814  17 

9,926  14 

114 

7,572 

48,740  31 

1844  —  1845  

40,197  96 

12,502  27 

122 

7,595 

52,700  23 

1845  —  1846    ...  . 

42  028  53 

16,570  86 

146 

8,870 

58,599  39 

1846—1847  
1847  —  1848  .  . 

61,887  13 
70  127  99 

24,592  02 
39  290  46 

163 
166 

9,838 
10  273 

86,479  15 
109,418  45 

1848  —  1849 

77  166  22 

35  923  72 

173 

10  875 

113,089  94 

1849—1850  
1850  —  1851 

80,146  92 
79  648  47 

17,756  86 
51  010  69 

176 

178 

11,138 
11  376 

97,903  78 
130,659  16 

1851  —  1852 

80  746  78 

56  221  16 

189 

11  788 

136,967  94 

1852—1853  

84,739  79 

35,823  09 

190 

11,868 

120,562  88 

1853  —  1854 

81  881  43 

22  121  66 

194 

11  980 

104,003  09 

1854  —  1855 

98  764  34 

24  163  35 

197 

12,172 

122,927  69 

Total 

$1  275  911  00 

$337  986  47 

$1,613,897  47 

'  No  appropriations  were  made  for  School-houses  till  1834. 


304 


APPENDIX. 


COMPARATIVE  TABLE  OF  THE  INTERMEDIATE  SCHOOLS,  FOR  THE 
HALF  YEAR  ENDING  JANUARY  31,  1854. 


GRAMMAR  SCHOOL. 

DISTRICT. 

No.  of  the 

School. 

!j5 

'§ 

y 

II 

to 

>•§, 

*J 

_o 

1 

& 

1 

£ 

J| 

Is 

•8 

11 

&cfl 

PH 

East  Boston. 
No.  1 

4 

60 
65 

39 

50 
46 
24 
59 
68 
42 
29 
67 
51 
20 
46 
90 
65 
58 
19 
23 
46 
43 
25 
65 
29 
20 
42 
64 
57 
47 
35 

53 
49 
35 

48 
33 
29 
56 
50 
36 
21 
60 
58 
17 
45 
84 
60 
60 
20 
21 
37 
25 
20 
46 
42 
22 
48 
55 
40 
26 
42 

60 
68 
61 

60 
63 
76 
66 
64 
73 
62 
68 
60 
43 
61 
61 
(I 
63 
84 
44 
60 
65 
47 
61 
65 
50 
54 
63 
75 
69 
60 

13 
16 
12 

15 
7 
1 
12 
8 
11 
- 
25 
20 
5 
15 
44 
35 
27 
7 
14 
9 
7 
9 
11 
19 
15 
21 
17 
17 
6 
12 

14 
26 
16 

7 
12 
8 
14 
14 
9 
12 
10 
12 
6 
13 

"io 

8 
7 
10 
8 
10 
11 
15 
12 
18 
12 
11 
13 

27 
42 

28 

22 
19 
9 
26 
22 
20 
20 
35 
32 
11 
28 
44 
35 
27 
17 
22 
16 
17 
17 
21 
30 
30 
33 
85 
29 
16 
25 

45 
63 
46 

36 
30 
11 
47 
34 
27 
32 
51 
64 
25 
46 
72 
60 
42 
60 
50 
26 
30 
38 
31 
54 
60 
61 
55 
38 
27 
41 

2 

4 

3 

2 

City. 
2  

6 

9  
7  

4  

7 

5  

8  
5 

6 

4  

7 

3  

8  colored 

7   .  ..  . 

9 

6   . 

6  fbovs) 
11  (gids) 

j 

11     

6  (boys) 
7  (gifls) 
5  (boys) 
10  

12          

13 

14 

5  (boys) 
8  (girl?) 
4  (girls) 
6  (boys) 
5  

15 

16 

17   

11  
7  
7  

18  

19 

9  
0  

20  

6 

48 
32 

17 
20 

68 
63 

12 
6 

7 
4 

19 
10 

32 
14 

7  

Totals   

32 

1444 

1276 

1986 

455 

329 

784 

.... 

82  Schools.     1986  Pupils.          jj  2720  changes  in  six  months !! 

***  In  nine  of  the  Schools  in  the  above  table,  but  one  sex  is  admitted. 


APPENDIX 


305 


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